Agenda item

To consider a report by the Principal Librarian (copy attached) which highlights the Library Service’s performance against National Standards and seeks the Committee’s observations in relation to the report’s contents.

11.15 am – 12.00 pm

The Lead Member for the Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage, Councillor Emrys Wynne, introduced the Library Service Standards and Performance report (previously circulated).  As part of his introduction the Lead Member emphasised that the Service had performed well during 2022-23 but acknowledged that he had concerns about the Service’s ability to sustain its high-performance levels in the medium-term given the financial situation for the foreseeable future.

The report provided information regarding the Council’s performance in relation to the 6^th Framework of Welsh Public Library Standards 2017-20 (extended for 21-23) and the progress made in developing libraries as places of individual and community well-being and resilience.

The report related to Denbighshire’s Library Service for the financial year 2022-23 which was still within the covid period.  The impact on performance of proposed changes to the Library/One Stop Shop service was not expected to manifest until April 2024 at the earliest.

The new National Standards were expected to be established with the publication of the 7^th Framework of Welsh Public Library Standards, which had a provisional implementation date of 1^st April 2025.

The Head of Housing and Communities, Liz Grieve, introduced the new Principal Librarian, Deborah Owen to the Committee.

Prior to discussions the Head of Housing and Communities made a point of clarification that the report was not regarding the cuts to Library Service hours within Denbighshire.  She then proceeded to outline the process followed for undertaking the assessment, stressing that under the current standards the Council was performing well.  Performance had improved greatly following the end of Covid restrictions, although public use of computers in libraries had reduced following the pandemic.  Other service provision had been adapted to respond to post-pandemic public needs.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member and officers confirmed that the Service:

• the Welsh Government’s Culture Division (WGCD) did not compare individual local authority library services against others.
• was proposing to expand digital engagement within the library service, possibly by using volunteers to help improve residents’ digital skills and supporting organisations to seek funding to help support non-IT literate individuals to gain and improve their IT skills in a ‘friendly/supporting’ environment. 
• currently made limited use of volunteers.
• looking to the future would be exploring opportunities to increase income generation from external organisations with a view to sustaining and improving services despite budget cuts.  It would also be seeking information from Library Services elsewhere on what steps they had taken to try and sustain services despite budget cuts.
• despite the fact that there was no longer a School Library Service, library staff worked closely with the county’s schools and had recently been engaging with years 7 and 8 pupils with a view to encouraging them to visit their local library and use it as a research facility.  School libraries themselves were also regarded by pupils as safe spaces and it was encouraging to see so many pupils volunteering to help out in their school libraries.
• as part of its planning for the future would be undertaking a survey seeking the public’s views and ideas on the types of services they would like to see their local libraries providing.
• Did not hold detailed information on how many people utilised library services and what services were specifically used but could provide data on the number of ward members who were active library members.

Confirmation was given that the impact of changes to library opening hours would be included within the 2024/25 report, the 2023/24 report would be based on the current opening hours and usage.  Members questioned the delay in providing the report and it was clarified that the Council provided information to WGCD in June each year and receive a response from WGCD usually in December of each year which was the report submitted to Scrutiny Committee each year.  Members requested an Information Report be provided in mid-2024 detailing the Service’s draft performance statistics as submitted to the Welsh Government’s Culture Division in accordance with the requirements of the Framework, prior to receiving the 2023/24 Annual Assessment Report against the Standards in January 2025.

A working group would shortly be established to assess the impact of the reduction in opening hours of the Library/One Stop Shop and to explore alternative solutions to enhance service delivery going forward.  Shortly, each Member Area Group (MAG) would be requested to appoint a member to serve on this Group. 

The Lead Member stressed that whilst library opening hours were being reduced as part of the Council’s strategy for setting a balanced budget, it was also important to remember that no library would be closed, and the buildings would still be available for community use.

Following the conclusion of an in-depth discussion members:

Resolved:  subject to the above comments –

(i)   to endorse and acknowledge the Library Service’s performance against the 6^th Framework of Welsh Public Library Standards;

(ii) to request an ‘Information Report’ in mid-2024 detailing the Service’s draft performance statistics as submitted to the Welsh Government’s Culture Division in accordance with the requirements of the Framework, prior to receiving the 2023/24 Annual Assessment Report against the Standards in January 2025; and

(iii)                that the initial findings of the Working Group established to measure the impact of the reduction in Library/One Stop Shop opening hours and explore alternative proposals or solutions to enhance or expand service delivery going forward, be presented to the Committee in late 2024.