Agenda item

To receive a report by the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport that asks Members to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Community Services on a decision to be taken on a proposed charitable trust model of delivery for the Libraries, Registration and Archives Services for implementation following consultation

1.         Mr Hill introduced the report, which set out a proposed charitable trust model of delivery for the Library, Registration and Archive Services. Reassurance was given that there were no proposals to reduce library branches. He explained that he had been in conversation with the General Registration Office (GRO) who has concluded that primary legislation will be required before Registration staff can be transferred to a Trust.  The GRO could not give a timescale but does acknowledge that the current legislation is not fit for purpose. It was emphasised that this transformation was part of a phased journey.  He described the model proposed in the report as a continuum to modify the service in house and move to a Trust model when Government legislation allows.

2.         Mr Pearson presented a series of slides which clarified the consultation process, consultation results and registration service implications, as well as the next advised steps in the transformation process.

3.         Mr Hill, Ms Slaven and Mr Pearson responded to questions and comments from member, including the following:-

a)    whether or not a new consultation would be required closer to the date would depend on the timing of the required new legislation. Mr Hill confirmed that he would follow the advice of the Director of Governance and Law on this matter and that if a significant length of time had passed before this then a second consultation, would be likely to be necessary;

b)    reassurance was given that the buildings would be leased to the Trust and that Kent County Council would retain ownership of them;

c)    in response to concerns raised with regard to the future of Kent’s archives, Mr Hill explained there were two types of archives to take into account; those archives held by Kent County Council would remain in Kent County Council ownership and be made available by the Trust, while those deposited by others, would require negotiation with the owners to decide how they would operate alongside new model;

d)    there was no intention to change the current mobile libraries service as this was a vital service and the Libraries, Registration and Archives Services were fully committed to widening public access to them;

e)    if a Trust model were to be adopted, the Library, Registration and Archives Service would transfer all of its employees directly over to the Trust, via TUPE, and voluntary workers would not undertake any task that should be completed by paid staff. It was also stated that it would be up to the Trust to determine its own relationship with the unions. Reassurance was given that, as a Trust, it would be within its interest to maintain a good relationship with the unions; and

f)     a view was expressed that, in considering the report, the Cabinet Committee must take into account the number of the electorate which did not make use of the Library service.

4.         The report’s recommendation was put to vote and was carried;

7 votes to 4.

The following Members asked that their dissention be recorded;

Mr M Baldock, Mr B MacDowall, Mr R Truelove and Mrs E Rowbotham

5.         RESOLVED that;

a)    the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Community Services, to retain the service in-house until such a time as the Registration Service can be externalised and form part of an integrated Libraries, Registration and Archives Trust, be endorsed;

b)    at that time a new decision would be required, and in parallel the in-house service would be internally commissioned against an agreed specification and deliver the required Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) savings. The County Council would push for the necessary legislative change to enable the full benefits of an integrated Libraries, Registration and Archives service in an externalised model to be realised.