Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Cabinet Member for Community Services and the Corporate Director, Growth, Environment and Transport Directorate that summarises the steps taken so far in the review of Libraries, Registration and Archives as part of phase one of the Facing the Challenge Transformation Programme. It outlines the options that have been considered including benefits and advantages and the outline plan to consult with the public, staff, unions and elected members and all other stakeholders about all the options including our preferred option.

(Report by Mr M Hill, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Mr M Austerberry, Corporate Director, Growth Environment and Transport Directorate)

(Ms C White, Review Team Manager,Mr J Burr, Principal Director of Transformation and Mr James Pearson, Service Improvement Manager were present for this item)

1.            The Cabinet Member for Community Services, Mr Hill, introduced a report that  summaries the steps taken so far in the review of Libraries, Registration and Archives as part of phase one of the Facing the Challenge Transformation Programme.  The report also outlined the plans to consult with the public, staff, unions and elected Members and other stakeholders about all the option including the preferred option of a Charitable Trust which had been endorsed by the County Council on 15 May 2014.

2.            Mr Hill and officers present noted comments and responded to questions by Members which included the following:

·      Mr Hill stated that he wanted to protect small libraries but had concerns that they were under used and efficient ways in delivering the library service needed to be found.

·      Members would continue to have involvement in the decisions to be made regarding the future of the Library Service.

·      There had already been work carried out to look at digitising the Registration Services as genealogy was identified as a key market and forming partnerships with other Archives would enhance the experience.  If the option for a Charitable Trust was the preferred option further income streams to be looked into.

·      The specification for employees would be laid down by the Charitable Trust on which Members would be represented as Trustees.

3.            The Chairman agreed to a request for a vote on the recommendation.  The vote was as follows:

5 for, 3 against and 1 abstention

Carried

4.            RESOLVED that the Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee agreed to the proposal to complete further stakeholder engagement and subsequent to this, initiate consultation on the options for the future delivery of Libraries, Registration and Archive services including the preferred option to establish a charitable trust.