Agenda item

PUBLIC LIBRARIES OPENING HOURS REDUCTION/CLOSURES

To consider the consultation update.

Minutes:

Councillor Rayner presented the report and thanked the whole library team for their hard work. The report was due to go to Cabinet later in the month. Due to Covid the consultation did not take place in March 2020 as planned but once the library reopened the consultation began on 3rd of September until the 30th of November.

 

The consultation received 1850 responses. The hours suggested in the consultation we're adjusted following the consultation to the hours that reflected residents preferences.

 

Extensive communications had been used to alert residents to take part. Councillor Price referred to page 49 and asked why the Transformation Strategy had not been available and had to be requested. The public had no access to this and hence had not seen all the reports. Councillor Price felt that both the library report and Transformation Strategy needed to be considered together to understand the changes. Councillor Rayner informed the Panel that the Transformation Strategy was part of the Cabinet discussion that was due to take place the following day. Councillor Rayner said that each level had to be looked in line. This was the report from last year's budget and from that we could build on, for this coming year’s budget.

 

Councillor Price commented that in areas with high levels of deprivation, the library and resources were desperately required. Losing these facilities in those areas would be detrimental to the local community. These local libraries were used for a number of purposes, whether it was for books, working space after school or meeting people. The Chairman suggested this could be discussed as part of the budget report.

 

Councillor Del Campo referred back to her previous question in the last report. Angela Huisman responded that two members of her staff were constantly available on the phone to assist residents with the digital offer that was available. There was also a new digital support email address that residents could use and an officer would call them back and talk through any issues. Angela Huisman understood that if a resident had no access to any device that could be a challenge. The team were currently looking into the options of loaning devices and providing support. Currently there were 12 devices to loan but officers were looking to get a lot more. This was currently being trialled on the mobile library so Officers were working through this on a step-by-step basis. Councillor Price commented that some households still had no devices for home-schooling and some schools were short. She asked if  the libraries team liaising with schools to make sure that these children could benefit from any spare devices. Adele Taylor informed the Panel that this was being discussed at Directors Group. Adele Taylor informed the Panel that the Transformation Strategy would be consulted on so there would be an opportunity for residents to comment. When a report went to Cabinet, that was the start of the process. Any library resident services changes would be consulted on. It was very important to show the direction of travel, the scope and the variety of services that the libraries offered. In the report provided to the Panel, this was for savings already agreed and delivered and any future savings would be discussed in the budget item.  However any changes to services would need to go for further public consultation.

 

Councillor Davey commented that there was a lot of connection between wealth and technology. It was worth pointing out that there were still a lot of people that chose not to engage with technology and therefore the library was an essential to act as the support structure across the boundaries. Councillor Davey commented that Windsor Boys' School had been reaching out to people to see if they had spare equipment. Councillor Davey understood that there was funding available and it was up to the schools to apply for that funding.

Supporting documents: