Decision details

The Plan describes the strategic priorities for Bath & North East Somerset Council Library Services and, following recent consultation, presents the options for efficiency savings over the year

(1) To APPROVE the plan and funding options.

In order to achieve ‘value for money’ services in a period of budgetary constraint we require that the Library Plan is robust, comprehensive, deliverable and yet responds to customer requirements.

Maintaining the mobile library service as current into 2013/14 and beyond

This option is rejected because an integral part of the plan is a target to have at least three new community based libraries in place by March 2013.  With these in place, the mobile library routes will be revisited and reworked to ensure that communities who need a mobile library can continue to receive a service via one vehicle instead of two. During the consultation, a number of people supported this idea. The older vehicle to be removed from service in March 2013

Withdrawing both mobiles

This option is rejected at present as it is difficult to ensure that service delivery will not be lessened to disadvantaged residents even with the mitigations of ‘new community libraries, improved opening hours in static libraries, and extended home library service.  Work will continue to improve services to residents, particularly the elderly and the disadvantaged, during 2012/2016 and this option can be re-considered by 2018 when the newer mobile will need to be replaced or withdrawn.