Issue - meetings

There will be a presentation on this item at the meeting. Presentation slides are attached.

The Chair invited Ian Savigar – Divisional Director Customer Services to give a presentation to the Panel (slides of the presentation are attached to the agenda papers for this meeting and held with Democratic Services). The presentation covered the following:

·  Libraries and Archives

·  Statistics on Libraries

·  Bath Central Library – List of Facilities

·  Keynsham – List of Facilities

·  Midsomer Norton Library – List of Facilities

·  Available Across the Service

·  Activities and Services

·  Opportunities and Issues

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Hale asked how the figures on visitors are calculated. The officer explained that the figures include people using the library to borrow a book and using other facilities such as cafes. Councillor Hale has a concern that figures will be used to cut facilities in the future and sought assurance that we always compare like with like. Members discussed the raised visiting figures in Paulton library and the effect of having a café. The officer informed the Panel that visiting numbers had gone up when the opening hours of the library went up from 14 hours per week to 38 hours. Councillor Bull explained that the café subsidises the library. It was agreed that Paulton library is a good model.

Councillor Butters stated that he is interested to hear about a partner with regard to the mobile library service when this information is available. The officer explained that talks with providers are ongoing and he would report back when appropriate.

Councillor Bull stated that is was good to have an update on the library service.