Agenda item

Cabinet received a report which requested it to review and approve the results from the public consultation on the use of libraries and community centres and to consider how the responses informed the Council’s spending plans for 2015-2016. The report further sought Cabinet’s approval for the approach outlined to supporting community centres in the future in order to secure a sustainable network of effective and efficient centres through a new model for community centres.

Councillor Serluca introduced the item and advised that a fact finding consultation had been undertaken over an eight week period and over 5,000 responses had been received. The top three findings for libraries, each achieving over 50% were ‘the books on the shelves’; ‘the location’ and ‘the access to information’. People had also stated that they would use their libraries more if they could be used outside normal hours. These principles would be utilised in formulating new models for delivering the libraries, with recommendations due to be presented back to Cabinet on 19 January 2014.

It was further advised that community centres had not presented a strong message but the responses had shown the strong social value that many community centres had, with a wide range of activities. Findings included ‘most people used their centres at least once a week’; ‘the highest usage was for health and wellbeing, slimming and fitness’; ‘the centres were used mostly by people who were over the age of 65’; and ‘most people did not travel more than a mile to their community centres’. Cabinet was requested to review and agree the new module for centres and task the Communities Directorate with carrying out the recommendation. It was proposed to undertake a comprehensive survey of all the community centres in order to understand their current state and further maintenance needs. This information would be paired with ward profiles and current community needs. The timeline for community centres was set to run from November 2014 to March 2016. Thanks were extended to the lead officers for all the work undertaken.

Cabinet debated the report and key points raised, along with responses to questions provided by the Council’s Culture and Leisure Partnership Manager, included:

·         The mobile library was a valued asset, particularly in the rural areas and it was confirmed that this service had not formed part of the review;

·         There were no planned changes for the mobile library service due to its importance for those individuals who could not access libraries in buildings and also those individuals who were housebound;

·         A number of libraries were utilised by school children as well as by the general public and consultation had been undertaken with those schools having a library building attached to them. Their recommendations had been taken on board and all the schools had offered their support in relation to the library service going forward;

·         There were 52 community centres in Peterborough, 33 of which were supported by the Council. All centres had been mapped against ward profiles and the need for the different wards, this provided a sound overview of the centres not supported by the Council and how they were providing services for the people of Peterborough;

·         There had been a good understanding gained of occupancy levels and how people were using their community centres and what activities were held at the centres;

·         The next piece of work would be to ascertain whether any of the community centres could support themselves by offering assistance through the Communities Team and helping them to build their skills and capacity in order to help them to become self-sufficient;

·         A programme had been recently launched through the Literacy Trust to encourage young people to read, literacy being a key aspect of education. More community centres could offer the facility of informal book lending;

·         Could schools or centres utilised frequently by numbers of people provide a static library facility instead of the mobile provision?

·         Utilities and insurance payments appeared inconstant across community centres, this may be a historical issue dependent on past agreements signed when the community centres were set up;

·         Some of the community centres could operate independently and an exercise to map occupancy in the centres should be undertaken;

·         The data from the 20,000 library card holders had been obtained, including a breakdown of the different ethnic groups and how they used their cards, the internal library data would be utilised to inform the new models for future delivery real time as well as consultation data;

·         More dual use was required and the most successful libraries were linked to schools; and

·         There was a system up and running for an electronic library; audio books were downloadable and eBooks were also downloadable, further promotion around this service needed to be undertaken. The Chairman advised that this information should be included on the Council’s website.

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED:

1.    To review and approve the results from the public consultation on the use of libraries and community centres and to consider how the responses informed the Council’s spending plans for 2015-16; and

2.    To approve the proposed approach to supporting community centres in the future, to secure a sustainable network of effective and efficient centres through a new model for community centres.

          REASONS FOR THE DECISION

To review and approve the results from the public consultation on the use of libraries and community centres and to consider how the responses inform the Council’s spending plans for 2015 – 2016.

To approve the proposed approach to supporting community centres in the future, to secure a sustainable network of effective and efficient centres through a new model for community centres.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

A ‘do nothing’ approach had been considered but discounted on the grounds that the consultation undertaken suggested there was a strong case to bring greater coherence to the Council’s approach in delivering library and community centre services in the future.