Agenda item

Modern Libraries Bath - Consultation outcomes and proposals

On the 19th July Cabinet approved a report which recommended consultation should take place on the two viable location options for a new integrated Library and One Stop Shop in Bath.

Extensive consultation was conducted via a questionnaire presented online and in paper format.  The response to this consultation has now concluded and the results, including feedback from the Full Council debate and Scrutiny Panel, are summarised within this paper and at appendix A. 

A final decision on the location is now required in order that the project can move into the next phase of scheme design, the estimated capital requirements for bringing this development forward need to be released from the provision identified.

Minutes:

Councillor Richard Samuel said that although he had shown support for protection of the library, he was concerned that detailed cost of the project could not be produced by the Council.  Councillor Samuel felt that integration of library and One Stop Shop (OSS) at the Podium may be the least desirable option.  Councillor Samuel asked the Cabinet to hold tight control on the cost and for full transparency with this project.

 

Councillor Paul Crossley said that current OSS space at Lewis House had been refurbished not so long ago and the OSS had been successful due to its space and its proximity to bus and train station.  Councillor Crossley felt that there was no reason for co-location and asked for a cost associated to the project and whether the police would use the new premises.

 

Councillor Dine Romero expressed her concern over the project’s direction and delivery and requested more clarity on agreement between Waitrose and the Council.  Councillor Romero also asked the Cabinet to pause the project and asked for new evidence on the co-location arrangements.

 

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones welcomed the proposal by saying that the Podium had had cultural and social intensity, and having a library and OSS there would work.  Councillor Anketell-Jones also said that exhibition space at the library should be retained.

 

Councillor Karen Warrington said that the aim was to integrate library and customer services in Bath to reach out to more people from all ages and backgrounds – providing a place where everyone in the community could access support, knowledge, culture and events to help them reach their full potential. The integration of services was both physical and cultural, with library and customer services coming together to share the same space, facilities and support, to meet the changing needs of their customers.  The chosen option at the Podium had had an indicative capital cost of £2.8m for Bath (the overall Modern Libraries programme including option 4 was estimated to cost £3.6m).  The net savings were estimated to be £393k per annum for Bath (the overall Modern Libraries programme was expected to save a net £798k per annum).  The consultation had commenced on 20th July 2017 and had closed on 15th September 2017.  The consultation document had been available on the council’s website and in print at all libraries and OSS’s.  The results of the consultation had showed that nearly 92% of respondents had opted for the Podium as their preferred location for the combined library and One Stop Shop. Councillor Warrington also added that there had been successful integration in Cardiff and Newcastle.

 

Councillor Karen Warrington moved the recommendations.

 

Councillor Mark Shelford seconded the motion by welcoming that the Council would save the library and integrate services to create a space where all members of the community could read, connect, learn and get help.

 

The rest of the Cabinet also welcomed the motion where they believed that by bringing the two services together residents and library users in Bath would continue to receive a modern comprehensive and efficient library service with potential to add more flexible space to increase the service offering.

 

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

 

1)  Note the outcome of the consultation.

2)  Approve The Podium as the chosen site for the central Bath integrated Library & One Stop Shop.

3)  Fully approve capital spending of £330K for the next phase of the project.

4)  Agree that the next phase will involve appointment of architects and a positive programme of user and partner engagement to enable detailed designs and costings, as set out in appendix B of the report.

5)  Note that once detailed costings have been produced, and final designs established, the total requirement for capital funding will be confirmed and relevant approvals obtained.

Supporting documents: