Meeting documents

Place Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 25th November, 2013 6.30 pm

Cultural Advisory WP Minutes

Date:
Thursday, 3rd October, 2013
Time:
18.30
Place:
Civic Centre, Civic Suite, Committee Room 6
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
1 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Habermel (no substitute), Robertson (no substitute) and Walker (sub: Cllr Lamb).
2 Declarations of interest.
 Nick Harris, Head of Culture - daughter is a peak relief worker in the library service - non-pecuniary.
3 Minutes of the Meeting held on Friday, 10th May, 2013
  • Minutes
Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10th May 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.
4 Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 6th June, 2013
  • Minutes
Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6th June 2013 be confirmed as a correct record subject to the inclusion of the following declaration of interest:

'Nick Harris, Head of Culture - daughter is a peak relief worker in the library service - non pecuniary.'
5 Consultation Responses to Library Review
 The Working Party considered a report of the Head of Culture which provided a detailed update and overview on the outcome of the consultation on the proposals for the future library service and set out a range of options for future delivery of the library service for the next 15 years. The timelines and indicative costings and savings of each option were also provided.

The Working Party also had available for information at the meeting the full set of consultation responses, which included the following petitions:

• Southend Libraries;
• Kent Elms Library; and
• Leigh Library

The Working Party discussed the options in detail. The Working Party stated a desire to safeguard as much of the library network as possible and felt that Option 1 provided the best overall way of doing this. Consequently, their recommendation to Cabinet will be to fully adopt the original proposals within the draft strategy. This option included:

• Continuing with the proposal to co-locate the Friars and Thorpedene branches on a new single site along Delaware Road to be the East Hub Library;
• Creation of a West Hub Library at either Leigh or Kent Elms;
• Adapting the original proposal to keep Leigh Library within its present location and do not consider moving the service to the Elm Road Development in the short to medium term but the long term aspiration for the future location of Leigh library to remain in the long term plans for the library service; and
• Delivering service improvements

Members then discussed and expressed their views on whether Leigh or Kent Elms should be created as the West Hub Library. There was no clear preference for either library to be the West Hub.

The Working Party felt that the decision regarding the West Hub location should be made by Cabinet.

Resolved:

That Cabinet be recommended:

1. To adopt Option 1 (fully adopt the original proposals within the draft library strategy) for the future delivery of the Library Service for the next 15 years;

2. To adopt the vision for the Library Service 2013-2028;

3. To agree the co-location of Thorpedene and Friars Library on a single site along Delaware Road, Shoeburyness;

4. To adopt a pragmatic approach to delivery of the branch network, recognising that a 'one size fits all' approach may not necessarily deliver the best solution for the locality or library service;

5. To agree a transitional one-off revenue expenditure of £40k in order to assist the library service in moving to a different operating model;

6. To agree one-off capital funding of approximately £50k for the installation of Wi-Fi across the entire Southend Libraries Branch Network (irrespective of the status of the branch, i.e. hub or community managed).

7. To agree the location of the West Hub Library (Kent Elms or Leigh).
6 Date and time of next meeting
 To be advised.
18.30/20.50

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Jarvis (Chairman),
Councillors Adam Jones (Vice-Chairman), *Lamb, Lewin, McMahon, Russell (Member) and Van Looy (Member)

*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31.
In attendance:
N Harris, S May, S Wheeler and R Harris

 

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