Agenda item - BCP Council Libraries – Draft Library Strategy

This report updates Cabinet on the progress which has been made with the future library strategy following two previous reports in February and December 2024.

The report sets out the key drivers for the library strategy, detailing the suggested future focus of the library service, the priorities for investment, and the action plan required to ensure we can continue to deliver an efficient and comprehensive service for the future.

The work to underpin the strategy has given us a clearer understanding of where to target investment to bring improvements for our communities, increasing access, and modelling provision within clusters.

The vision is an ambitious one, focussed on delivering improvements and cementing the value of libraries within our communities.

Whilst there is undoubtedly a resource challenge, as there is in delivering all council services, the strategy remains an ambitious statement of intent. Working with partners, the community, and internal teams, we will develop our preparedness for funding opportunities and focus on greater collaboration to ensure libraries deliver in a time of financial stress and even greater societal challenge.

It is anticipated that following endorsement of the draft Library Strategy, any changes of provision to be proposed within the life of the strategy will undergo a second stage consultation process, as appropriate.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(A) endorse the draft Library Strategy as an ambitious plan to ensure our libraries remain at the heart of our communities and open to all;

(B) supports the implementation of Open Access technology in 4 libraries to aid the ability for them to be in use when otherwise they would be closed;

(C) support the clustering of libraries within 4 geographical areas;

(D) endorse the approach to work up plans for the remodelling of Hamworthy, Rossmore, Southbourne and Charminster libraries as community hubs to enable wider use and understand the options for Winton Library;

(E) endorse the development of options appraisals in relation to Creekmoor and Parkstone libraries, in time, as required;

(F) support the continued creation of Friends’ Groups and volunteer roles in supporting the library offer;

(G) endorse the high-level action plan which will be developed to support strategy delivery;

(H) support consultation needs on a project-by-project basis over the life of the strategy;

(I) delegate authority to the Director of Customer and Property in conjunction with the Portfolio Holders for Culture and Communities, in relation to decisions arising from the strategy and action plan; and

(J) recognise the key role that arts, culture, creative health and public health can play in the future flourishing of our libraries and support ongoing work with Arts Council England to explore NPO status over the lifetime of the Strategy.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Customer, Communications and Culture

Reason

To ensure that the Library Strategy for BCP over the next five years is implemented.

The Portfolio Holder Customer, Communications and Culture presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report updated on the progress which had been made with the future library strategy following two previous reports in February and December 2024.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the report set out the key drivers for the library strategy, detailing the suggested future focus of the library service, the priorities for investment, and the action plan required to ensure we can continue to deliver an efficient and comprehensive service for the future.

Cabinet was informed that the work to underpin the strategy had provided a clearer understanding of where to target investment to bring improvements for our communities, increasing access, and modelling provision within clusters.

Cabinet was advised that the vision was an ambitious one, focussed on delivering improvements and cementing the value of libraries within our communities, and that whilst there is undoubtedly a resource challenge, as there is in delivering all council services, the strategy remains an ambitious statement of intent.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that working with partners, the community, and internal teams, the council will develop preparedness for funding opportunities and focus on greater collaboration to ensure libraries deliver in a time of financial stress and even greater societal challenge, and that it was anticipated that following endorsement of the draft Library Strategy, any changes of provision to be proposed within the life of the strategy will undergo a second stage consultation process, as appropriate.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Kate Salmon addressed the Cabinet advising that at their recent meeting the Board had considered this report and supported the recommendations as set out in the report but also made the following recommendations to Cabinet:

1. That as part of the Library Strategy it looks to maintain staffed hours in libraries, especially in the afternoon period, as open access is rolled out further in the future.

2. That the Library Services put together a list of smaller neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Bids to put to Councillors and Neighbourhood Forums immediately upon the opening of future CIL rounds

The Portfolio Holder acknowledged that there was no intention to reduce staffed hours in BCP Libraries as the open access provision was rolled out.