Agenda item

ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING

Public speaking will take place during agenda items 7 and 8.

 

Minutes:

The following people made statements to the Panel regarding Bath Library:

  1. Caroline Ambrose made a statement supporting the call in (a copy of the statement is attached to these minutes)

In response to a question from Councillor Romero, Caroline Ambrose stated that she did not believe the proposed project was deliverable and that there was not enough space – a large number of private conversations take place in the One Stop Shop.

2.  Dionne Pemberton made a statement supporting the call in. She stated that she felt the Council approach is flawed.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Butters, Dionne Pemberton stated that the needs of users must be assessed and that this has not been done.

  1. Andy Halliday made a statement supporting the call in (a copy of the statement is attached to these minutes)
  2. William Heath made a statement supporting the call in. He stated that community funding could be explored. He added that the Library and One Stop Shop are both distinct and valuable services and queried what other options have been considered.

Councillor Bull asked why users of the library and OSS should not be mixed. William Heath stated that the different needs must be assessed and that highly trained staff are needed for the triage process of assessing user needs.

  1. Councillor Joe Rayment made a statement supporting the call in. He stated that he supports integration which has worked in Keynsham but that this should be done to improve both services. He added that he feels the One Stop Shop users will suffer as it is currently located near the bus and train station and in a discreet area and to move to the Waitrose site would mean a busy area which is difficult for the private conversations that are needed. He stated that the Keynsham service was purpose built and not crow barring one service into another which may diminish both.

The following people made statements to the Panel regarding Community Library Approach:

1.  Caroline Ambrose made a statement supporting the call in (a copy of the statement is attached to these minutes)

 

When asked about examples of other areas, Caroline Ambrose gave the examples of Chester and Worcestershire (the Hive). In response to a question from Councillor Anketell Jones, she replied that it is possible for the library to generate income, for example from renting out the 75 seat event room.

  1. Duncan Hounsell made a statement supporting the call in (a copy of the statement is attached to these minutes)

Councillor Romero asked if, to his knowledge, any consultation had taken place with Saltford Library users to assess the capacity of the local volunteering community. Duncan Hounsell stated that he had an email from the Saturday morning volunteers and they have not been consulted, also the Friends of Saltford Library have not been consulted.

  1. Alison Hall made a statement supporting the call in. She stated that the consultation so far has been poor and that a vast pool of volunteers would be needed to cover the hours, these volunteers would need training and managing and would have no contract. She explained that Paulton Library has volunteer helpers but they cannot view personal data. She stated that there is likely to be a reduction in the valuable library service, a reduction of opening hours or potential closure.

Councillor Romero asked if there is large pool of volunteers in Paulton, Alison Hall stated that she did not know, she stated that she felt that community libraries can work but maybe only in more affluent areas.

  1. Kathleen Still (volunteer at Paulton Library) made a statement supporting the call in. She stated that places like Paulton will have to pick up the tab and this will affect the levy. She explained that the hub is open 6 days a week and volunteers have already gone the extra mile and have more than earned the right to support from the Council.

Councillor Hale asked if she felt that a volunteer library can work. Kathleen Still stated that currently the library service gives a lot of support including the helpline, training and IT support. Without this it may become a second class service.

  1. Victoria Langan made a statement supporting the call in. She explained that she is a teacher at the junior school in Paulton and she values reading as a life skill and sees the children using the library regularly for things such as the Summer Reading Challenge, the planters and remembrance ceremonies.

Councillor Bull asked that if the library was entirely run by volunteers, would children have a different experience. Victoria Langan stated that the volunteers are fantastic but there would be funding issues.

  1. Mary Tidbury made a statement supporting the call in. She explained that libraries make a big difference to children’s lives.

When asked if the Cabinet decision would threaten the library service, Mary Tidbury stated that yes it would and it was not a good decision.

  1. Councillor Hardman made a statement supporting the call in. She stated that there had been no open public consultation. She reported that there are 1000 active followers of Paulton library and 64% of books are borrowed by children. She stated that the running cost is £23, 700 for 2017-18 (not including staffing) and a one off set up fund would not be enough.

Councillor Hardman presented a petition to the Cabinet Member Councillor Karen Warrington from Paulton residents.

Councillor Gilchrist asked how others would be affected by the decision. Councillor Hardman stated that all branch libraries would be affected and she did not know what the effect would be on the libraries in Bath with no parish. Councillor Romero asked if there are other services that volunteers provide, Councillor Hardman explained that volunteers would have to run the youth service as well.

  1. Councillor Player made a statement supporting the call in. She explained that Moorland Road is a shopping district and any reduction in service (or closure) would reduce the diversity of available services for the many groups that are catered for. Councillor Player added that while she understood the finances that literacy should be for everyone. She added that Twerton is a deprived area and people are more dependent on libraries as they cannot always afford to buy new books and also may not have home internet.

Councillor Anketell Jones asked if there was another community space in that area of Bath, Councillor Player stated that there was not.

Councillor Romero asked if there was likely to be a sufficient pool of volunteers in the area, Councillor Player stated that there was a transitory population so there would not be the consistency and continuity of volunteers.

  1. Councillor Jackson made a statement supporting the call in. She stated that she had concerns about the process, the consultation and she doubted that there would be the width of pool of volunteers for branch libraries. She stated that there was ambiguity in the report around finance. Councillor Jackson concluded that common sense and hard facts should prevail and asked the Panel to uphold the call in.