Agenda item

This report presents a Comprehensive Statement of Need for Library Services for York and will form the basis of the council’s service specification in the forthcoming retendering exercise. 

Members considered a report that presented the Comprehensive Statement of Need for Library Services for York that would form the basis of the council’s service specification in the forthcoming retendering exercise. 

The Assistant Director of Communities & Equalities gave an update and confirmed after a 5 year deal with Explore York a new contract was due. He invited the Committee to comment on the city’s needs for library services as set out in the Statement of Need, (Annex 1 to the report). Members were informed that their comments would be reported to the Executive as part of the report to the 21 June meeting.

Following discussion the following comments were made:

·        Dunnington should not be included in the ‘barriers to services’ highlighted on page 31 of the agenda, as a vast majority of residents could walk to local amenities.

·        It should be noted, on page 41 of the agenda, that Fulford library was attached to St Oswald’s Primary School, which would have an effect on the visitor numbers.

·        Hob Moor Children’s Centre and primary school was in Westfield Ward.

·        Ways to develop a collaboration between primary schools and library services, to support children’s reading, should be explored and considered. 

·        Community Liaison Officers could help develop and support the home library service.

Following further discussion around the need for a premises strategy that would address the £3m worth of repairs over the next 20 years, it was agreed that the following sentence, on page 45 of the agenda, ‘It will be essential to secure new premises that are more fit for purpose and which reduce this significant financial liability on the council’ should be redrafted to ensure it clearly stated that the council would provide more fit for purpose buildings and not necessarily to find new premises.

In answer to Members questions, it was noted that:

·        The Stakeholders consultations would be hard to deliver in house and officers felt they had offered good value for money that helped increase confidence in the process and generated enthusiasm.

·        Wireless printing was available for customers to print from their own technology and PC rooms would start to include cutting edge technology such as 3D printing.

·        There was a planned replacement of IT equipment in process and the Internet access would be provided throughout the contract and the broadband would be supplied by City of York Council.

·        Explore works closely with York Learning to support customers with job seeking and Universal Credit.

The Committee agreed that each library was unique in the services it offered and following discussions around new library cafes competing with existing independent businesses, Members were informed that consultation and collaboration within communities takes place to ensure each library Gateway offered the right service for each community.

Members thanked officers for their update.

Resolved:  That the Committees comments on the city’s needs for library services, as set out in the document attached at Annex 1, be noted.

Reason: To allow the committees comments to be reported to the Executive as part of the report to the 21 June meeting.