Issue - meetings

Provision of Library Services-Contract Performance Report

Meeting: 30/03/2021 - Renewal, Recreation and Housing Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee (Item 22)

22 PROVISION OF LIBRARY SERVICES - CONTRACT PERFORMANCE REPORT pdf icon PDF 374 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report HPR2021/019

 

The report provided an update on the Provision of Library Services contract with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) over the last six months of operation. The value of the contract over a ten-year period was £40,908,465.  Members received an update on the performance of the Contractor since the last report was presented in September 2020 and the report demonstrated how the Contractor had delivered the service in line with the contract, specification, and Key Performance Indicators.

 

The Committee noted that plans were in pace to initially reopen libraries from 12April 2020 between 10am and 5pm.  There were ongoing issues with Orpington Library which meant that it would not be reopening on 12 April, although options for contingency planning around temporary hot water and heating supplies were being explored which would enable services to run with a minimum of disruption.

 

Members noted that it had been possible to offer virtual school visits during the period of lockdown and going forward it was hoped that it would be possible to offer both in-person and virtual school visits in recognition of the benefits of both approaches.

 

It was noted that the libraries hoped to work more closely with Children and Family Centres and meetings had been scheduled to facilitate this going forward

 

The Committee further noted that it was hoped that the initial Start Up Bromley project would commence on 4 May 2021, and Members would be provided with further details nearer the time.

 

With respect to levels of borrowing, the Committee noted that there had been increases in the use of e-resources and efforts were being made to encourage those who used the wide range of services available at the libraries to become members.

 

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked representatives from GLL for the high level of services that had been provided throughout the pandemic.

 

RESOLVED: That the performance of the service provider in the last six months of the contract be noted.