Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities (copy enclosed) presenting the Library Strategy 2019 – 22 for Cabinet endorsement.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       endorse the Library Strategy 2019 - 22, and

(b)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Tony Thomas introduced the report and presented the Library Strategy 2019 – 22 for Cabinet endorsement.  The Strategy outlined the vision for the public library service in Denbighshire and what it aimed to achieve in the next three years.

Councillor Thomas highlighted the importance of the library service and provided a number of key performance statistics to demonstrate how well the service was performing with Denbighshire ranked in the top 10 authorities in Wales for a range of measures.  The Chief Executive highlighted the value of the digital assistance sessions, particularly given the issues around digital connectivity in the county.

The Head of Customers and Communities explained the reasoning for the Strategy in order to highlight the importance of the service within communities and how it contributed to the Council’s strategic priorities. She also reported upon the investment over recent years in library buildings and staff and further development of partnerships to maximise benefits, emphasising the importance of the service in terms wellbeing, learning and prosperity, and also the key role for communities to take ownership and become actively involved.  The cost of the library service was just under £3 per library visit and a national study from 2013 showed library user local spend was around £8, which was being put back into the local economy.

Cabinet acknowledged the importance of the library service to local communities and people’s health and wellbeing and commended the range of activities and initiatives provided.  In considering the Strategy discussion focused on the following –

·         in response to questions from Councillor Mark Young it was confirmed that opening hours were under constant review with a view to best meeting the needs of communities within the finite resources available and assurances given that Wi-Fi was available in all libraries which could be accessed by the public

·         Councillor Richard Mainon was keen to see greater commercialisation and income generation together with more use of volunteers and extended opening hours to maximise the benefits of the service; he also felt there would be merit in developing SMART targets to measure progress. The key role of volunteers within the action plan to take particular initiatives and projects forward was explained.  The promotion of the use of libraries as community hubs and for community activities outside of traditional opening hours was also highlighted and particular reference was made to the successful partnership work with Rhuddlan Town Council and St. Asaph City Council in that regard

·         the difficulties in comparing service costs with other authorities was explained given that Denbighshire was the only library service integrated with its customer services, however Denbighshire did appear more expensive when compared to other local authorities and further analysis was being undertaken to ascertain the reasons for that and the potential for any further efficiencies to be made

·         Councillor Bobby Feeley highlighted the social value of the service and referred to the range of activities to engage with communities and more vulnerable sectors of society but she understood the need to make libraries more commercialised and cost effective and looked for opportunities in that respect.

In response to further questions from non-Cabinet members the Head of Customers and Communities elaborated upon the various services offered including the well valued housebound service.  It was clarified that the £2.94 cost per library visit did not include the housebound service.  Councillor Meirick Davies queried the impact of not providing hard copies of planning applications within libraries and the Head of Customers and Communities agreed to look into the matter and report back to him outside of the meeting.  Councillor Peter Scott took the opportunity to thank the Council for the investment in St. Asaph Library and reported upon its success as a community hub and he also encouraged other communities to do likewise and engage and involve libraries in community activities.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       endorse the Library Strategy 2019 - 22, and

(b)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration.