Decision details

The Council has been consulting the residents of Bath & North East Somerset on the type of services they would like to see in a new library facility in the Radstock area, this decision takes in to account the outcome of this consultation.

(1) To AGREE that Library facilities are re-located to new premises in the RADCO superstore;

(2) To AGREE that the Library will be open to Customers during the opening hours of the store, through a mixture of staffed and self-serve provision;

(3) To AGREE that the new Library facility will take into account other requests made through the consultation process and be designed to accommodate as many as possible;

(4) To NOTE the concerns expressed relating to Children Centre provision and to CONFIRM that these will be provided for.

The re-location of Library Services into the Radco Superstore will enable the Council to provide a big increase in its opening hours to local residents. It aims to use the new space to increase the number of issues and users from people who will not have used the facilities before. It will provide a wider range of services and improved digital access to services.

Co-location with Radco is in line with the Council’s policy to work closely with partners and offers the potential for using this innovative solution to learn about how future provision may develop.

Maintaining the Library in its current location

This has always been part of the consideration and an issue which has been raised by some of the existing users, but given the opportunity to use the new innovative co-location with Radco to increase usage and provide extended opening hours this was not the preferred option.

Old Nat West Building

This was suggested as an alternative venue but again this would not offer the same level of opportunity.