To receive verbal updates from Mr M Hill, OBE, Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services and Mr M Dance, Cabinet Member for Economic Development.
Minutes:
1. Mr M Hill, OBE (Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services) announced the launch of the Open+ pilot that took place at Deal, Higham and Paddock Wood library. The Open+ model was a new innovative approach that offered customers the opportunity to access library services outside of normal staffing hours via a secure electronic coding system. Mr Hill assured Members that the piloted service model was already common practice in many places across the UK and had proved to be a success. A report would return to the committee upon completion of the pilot.
2. In addition, Mr Hill also announced the opening of the new Bearsted Library on 14August 2018 in its temporary location at the Station Master’s House next to ticket office at Bearsted railway station. Assessments were due to be undertaken at the old library building to evaluate its possible future use.
3. Mr Hill reported that the Libraries, Registration and Archive services was awarded accreditation status. Mr Hill commended the quality of the archive service and applauded the work carried out by the officers.
4. In regard to recent sporting events, Mr Hill commended the success of the Kent School Games which was attended by 8,538 young people from 334 schools.
5. Mrs B Cooper (Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport) briefed the committee on the Serious Incident that occurred at Sittingbourne Library on 22 June 2018. Mrs Cooper confirmed that the two staff members who were victims of the attack had received medical treatment and were back in work; the person responsible for the attack was in police custody and would be subject to legal proceedings. Due to the severity of the attack a range of actions had been undertaken to ensure that all involved, principally the team at Sittingbourne and the wider district, had the support they needed. Mrs Cooper thanked the team for continuing to deliver a high-quality service under such challenging circumstances and thanked Kent Police who had been hugely cooperative. Mrs Cooper said that there was an action plan to review key procedures which received tremendous corporate support and input from the local Libraries, Registration and Archive (LRA) Services, the Health and Safety Team, Human Resources and Unison. Mrs Cooper affirmed that the care of staff was Kent County Council’s key priority alongside the continuation of providing an open access service to LRA facilities. However, whilst Kent County Council continued to promote that all people were welcome into libraries, it also needed to ensure that all staff work within a safe and acceptable environment.
(a) Members endorsed the kind words expressed by Mrs Cooper for both the victims of the Sittingbourne and the Tunbridge Wells attack along with the constabulary for their efficiency in managing the incidents.
6. Mr M Dance (Cabinet Member for Economic Development) provided an update on the No Use Empty initiative which received international recognition from a South Korean film company. Mr Dance, along with a national representative from Government were interviewed on the scheme, raising awareness of the issues surrounding empty properties and highlighting the success of the Kent initiative.
7. RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted, with thanks.