Issue - meetings

This report sets out the call-in received by 11 Councillors of the decision relating to the agreed approach to run Community libraries in Bath & North East Somerset. This also covers the points raised by a second call-in notice, also received within the 5 day call-in period, by a further 13 Councillors. The role of the Panel is to consider the issues raised by both call-in notices and to determine its response.

The Chair invited the Lead Call in Member Councillor Joe Rayment to make a statement (Call in 1).

Councillor Rayment read a statement on behalf of Councillors Bevan and Walker which supported and endorsed the call in and noted their particular concerns over the effect of a possible cut of the mobile library service on vulnerable groups.

Councillor Rayment made his statement as lead call in Councillor (Call in 1). He explained that he did not think the Cabinet report had been put together well and that a ‘click and collect’ book service did not constitute a library, as a library is a safe space, not just a book delivery system. He explained that he thought the outcome of the proposals would be that people in affluent areas would get a good library service but maybe not so in other areas. He queried the statement in the report that states that the proposals will help communities to become more resilient. Councillor Rayment listed some questions he had over the practicalities of the proposals including: who would pay utility bills on the building; what evidence was there that groups would volunteer; how would they raise money and what would happen if a Parish Council could not do this, or if there was no Parish Council. He further stated that he thought users should be consulted; that assurances should be given that the mobile library service would not be cut and that the EIA (Equality Impact Assessment) had been available to Cabinet and the public before the decision was made.

The Chair invited the Lead Call in Member Councillor Richard Samuel to make a statement (Call in 2).

Councillor Samuel stated that a case had not been made for this initiative. He stated that mobile libraries are crucial to the community and that there had been no meaningful consultation or discussion with local users. He gave an example of a similar proposal in Kent which was eventually reined back. He stated that the issue over property ownership needed clarity. He added that there must be clarity over the plans for the mobile library; the vehicle is old and usage falls when it is unreliable. He concluded that the report was very thin and the implications for each library and the mobile library must be clearly set out.

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

Councillor Romero asked if the lead call in Councillors thought that there was an untapped pool of volunteers ready to help and also if they thought that rural communities would end up with a click and collect book service; and if so, whether the closures of local pubs and shops may cause a problem. Councillor Rayment stated that he was not aware of any hidden groups of volunteers. Councillor Samuel stated that he had heard about the volunteering service in Paulton and explained that he had experience of CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) and has had experience of some potential problems with relying on volunteers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44

The Modern Libraries Programme is seeking to deliver improved services across Bath and North East Somerset at the same time as contributing to the Council’s unprecedented financial challenges. The Council is committed to an annual efficiency saving of £800,000 by 2020 to be realised through the whole programme.

Whilst there is a financial pressure, the Modern Libraries Programme seeks to develop an exciting community approach. Building on work so far, this will provide opportunities and increased investment for locally-based sustainable services across our areas tailored to local needs.

Councillor Dine Romero expressed her concerns to budget cuts and how unprecedented financial challenges on required annual efficiency saving of £800,000 by 2020 to be realised through the whole programme would impact on libraries.  Councillor Romero asked the Cabinet to pause and re-think before making a final decision on this matter.

Councillor Richard Samuel said that the current administration had decided to exercise whole sale privatisation of branch libraries.  Councillor Samuel also said that amateur volunteers would replace paid professionals, that other options in the report had been dismissed and that the whole process had been poorly thought out which would lead to further protest from the community.

Councillor Will Sandry expressed his concerns with the proposal and approach as presented in the report, and felt that branch libraries had an important role for the communities in deprived areas.

Councillor Paul Crossley asked the Cabinet to review their decision on this matter.  Councillor Crossley reminded the meeting that previous administration had decided to leave mobile libraries in service as they were of benefit to hard to reach communities and elderly people. 

Councillor Karen Warrington said that the Council had made provision for a capital budget of £5.953m plus £0.971m identified balances (a total of £6.924m overall), in order to deliver the modern libraries programme and this report had focused on the investment in and delivery of the Community Library Programme to be funded by £275,000 capital which would include a grant fund for the community and other supporting resources.  The Council would not reduce the available Library service but rather ensure that residents and library users would continue to receive the comprehensive and efficient library service they already enjoy.  However, the Council would need to take a strategic, long-term approach to transforming the library service and by adopting this new community approach, this strengthened the resilience of our communities as well as ensuring efficiencies.

Councillor Karen Warrington moved the recommendations.

Councillor Paul Myers seconded the motion by saying that the Council would need to make savings and that the community model had been successful in Bath and North East Somerset as it was in other areas. 

The rest of the Cabinet welcomed the motion by saying that the Community Run Libraries approach in each locality would be the subject of further discussions with the Area Forums, building on the progress so far that had seen significant interest in some communities wanting a more tailored library provision locally. 

Councillor Tim Warren said that there was no mention in the report on closing mobile libraries and that he did not see any issues in engaging volunteers to work in libraries.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

1)  Adopt the new approach to delivering Community Run Library services in Bath and North East Somerset as set out in Appendix B as part of the overall Modern Libraries programme.

2)  Approve the release of Capital in the sum of £275,000 to invest in and support our new approach to Community Run Libraries.