Agenda item

Report DRR14/054

Members considered the results of the staff and library user consultation that had been undertaken since the R&R PDS meeting held in April 2014.  In response to the outcome of the consultation, the report made a number of recommendations to achieve the necessary budget savings for 2014/15.

To maintain an effective service within the reduced operating hours and staff hours, it was necessary to install Radio Frequency Identification Data (RFID) equipment in all of the borough’s libraries at a cost of £275,000 to enable full customer self-service.

Staff Side Secretary, Mr Glenn Kelly addressed the Committee. Mr Kelly stated that despite the fact that 2,000 people signed a submitted petition requesting that the proposals be dropped, their pleas had gone unheard.  The current proposals before Members had not differed from those previously considered.  A proposed total of 306 working hours would be deleted from front line posts.  Mr Kelly alluded to the survey carried out which at no time asked the public if they were against the proposed cuts.  Referring to the closure of the mobile library, it was noted that 43% of the public interviewed claimed that this service was their sole means of access to books.  Of that 43%, nearly 50% used the service on a weekly or fortnightly basis. 

Whilst staff were concerned about their future and possible cuts to their salaries, the Authority was prepared to spend £275k on installing IT equipment in all libraries and was prepared to set aside a further amount of money for future maintenance work. 

In summing up, Mr Kelly urged Members not to accept the recommendations in the report and speaking on behalf of staff and public users, requested that the proposals be dropped.

The Chairman made the following statement:-

'I want to commend officers for an excellent report on this controversial subject.  Approximately 400 libraries in the UK have been closed - not a reduction in hours, but closed.

This Authority is required to save over £5.2m in the next financial year which is a major challenge to every department in the Council; doing nothing is not an option and what we are doing now is not an option.

Over past years, the Authority has undertaken a number of consultations, surveys and public opinion to look at libraries in detail, hours, numbers attending and purpose of visit.

At my last meeting on 1 April 2014, I asked all assembled to contact me about their concerns.  Out of the 20+ who attended that meeting, only one made contact with me, for which I was grateful.

We are in austere times and decisions have to be made but as I have said numerous times, this is a great opportunity to review our libraries.  What could we offer better, how can we engage with the public better and not lose a service but enhance that service with a wider remit.  How can we work smarter, use local resources, provide a hub that not only has books but many other offers.  It is a time to move on and step up our game.  So, thank you to those who have engaged in such a positive way and for those who have challenged myself and the Portfolio Holder, asking those questions and making constructive comments, it has been very useful and helpful in the overall decision that has to be made - changing hours but NOT closing libraries.'

Ms Liz Keable addressed Members on behalf of Mottingham Residents' Association.  Whilst it was understood that cuts were necessary, the proposed 3 pm closure of Mottingham Library on Wednesday afternoons would save very little, if any, expenditure.  Footfall at the library was 60% higher in comparison with Shortlands Library.  As a small community, the library was highly valued, used by the elderly and school students alike and was also used as a social hub.  In light of the above, Ms Keable requested that the opening hours for Wednesday afternoons be extended to 5.30 pm.  An e-mail from a student at Dorset Road School was read to Members.  The student, who suffered with a language disorder, regularly visited the library and commended staff who had helped him "ignite a passion" to continue with his reading.  He supported Ms Keable's request for extra opening time on Wednesdays.

The Chairman commented that Ms Keable's representations underlined the fact that Mottingham Library was a community hub and would continue to be so.  Councillor Tickner referred to the library's isolated position near the Ward boundary and in this regard, he supported Ms Keable's request.  The Head of Leisure and Culture informed Members that the current proposals provided a balanced budget to meet necessary cuts.  Preferred Option B already included an extra hour which had been reallocated following previous consideration.

The Chairman confirmed that comments received after the last PDS meeting would be considered.  He suggested that volunteer staff could be used to cover any additional opening hours.

Having taken into account Ms Keable's request, Members agreed that the current proposals should be accepted as they stand, with the proviso that the operating hours at Mottingham Library be reviewed in six months' time.

Councillor Michael commented that she was proud of library staff and the work they carried out.  It should be seen as an achievement that there had not been a single library closure within the Borough.  Councillor Michael noted that the report did not reflect the results of the interviews carried out at Beckenham Library with regard to opening and closing hours, in which the largest number of respondees had preferred Option C. 

It was reported that in response to the question of whether the Council's proposal for reducing opening hours would inconvenience users in any way, the vast majority of people interviewed had responded "no".  In this regard, the Council thought it prudent to go with the option that caused the least inconvenience. 

Discussion took place around the best way to promote current library services and inform the public of the changes that would take place.  Officers would work with the Council's Communication Department in this regard.

Councillor Dean voiced his concern at the termination of the Mobile Library Service and emphasised the need to heavily promote the voluntary organisation which had agreed to deliver to housebound residents and in particular, existing users. 

Members praised the excellence of library staff and gave assurances that officers would work closely with them and service users to ensure there was as little disruption as possible during implementation of the proposals.  There were currently 9½ full time vacancies within the library service with 10 full time equivalent posts being affected by the proposals.  The Council would try to avoid seeking compulsory redundancies.

RESOLVED that:-

1)  the content of the report, including the outcome of the staff and library user consultation, be noted;

2)  the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree the changes as set out in the report and, in particular:-

  a)  the changes to library operating hours (with the proviso that the hours of operation at Mottingham Library be reviewed in six months’ time); and

  b)  the deletion of the mobile library service.

3)  the Portfolio Holder be recommended to request that the Executive agree the one-off funding of £275k for the purchase and installation of RFID equipment, to ensure that the full £300k savings are realised within 12 months of installation.