Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities on the progress being made to implement the recommendations arising from the review of Libraries, Heritage and Arts (LHA) to make the required savings in line with the MTFS, and to highlight key achievements and emerging issues as a result of that implementation. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 9’ is filed with these minutes.  

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Lead Member for Heritage, Leisure and Arts, Mr R Blunt CC, to the meeting for this item. Mr Blunt acknowledged that the Adults and Communities Department had already shown success in continuing to provide good services whilst making efficiency savings. The Department now sought to progress community partnerships, encouraging volunteering and community capacity and engagement.  

Arising from discussion the following points were raised:-

(i)     It was explained to the Committee that many of the projects organised as part of Leicester’s City of Culture Bid were still likely to be proceeded with despite the City of Culture being awarded to Hull. It had been intended that cultural activities would take place across the County focusing on the market towns. It was hoped that the remains of King Richard III would be laid to rest in Leicester and as a result many of the displays at Bosworth Battlefield depicting the battle, social consequences of the battle and outlining the recent project leading to the finding of the remains in Leicester were being upgraded. The County Council was working closely with the City Council in this area;

(ii)    Since the last update report on progress of the LHA review in November 2012, work had been undertaken to implement measures based on the key strategic principles which had been identified through the Review. Partnerships were being built with communities and work had progressed in this area over the year. The County Council was also engaging with other local authorities to gather as much evidence as possible before coming to a decision on how to progress to the next stage of implementing the outcomes of the Review. The Committee asked officers to ensure that partnership working with the district councils was robust and allowed for the best possible access to services for members of the public;

(iii)  It was hoped that devolved delivery and community partnerships could be used to replace services no longer provided by the County Council.  Options for commercial development and further review of opening hours were also being explored. Services would need to focus on periods where facilities were at their busiest. The County Council now had a good understanding of what could be expected from communities in helping to run LHA services and this put the Council in a better position to respond to the challenge to make savings;

(iv)  Members commended the services provided at the multi-access centre in Loughborough, this was the largest library in the County and had the most extensive opening hours. When reviewing opening hours of libraries the County Council needed to ensure that libraries were open where there was the greatest demand for services. Local authorities had a statutory duty to provide a free book service and as such libraries would always stock hard copies of books;

(v)    With regard to LHA volunteers, it was noted that the demography of volunteers had tended to change in recent years. Traditionally older people had been the main source of volunteers but now younger people were increasingly volunteering to gain experience in the work place. 40 disabled volunteers also worked in LHA services across the County. Standards were agreed locally between managers and volunteers. Paid staff made up the core workforce whilst volunteers worked more flexibly and provided support for community activities such as plays and book fairs. The Committee recognised the importance of the work that volunteers undertook and the vital role that they played in communities across the County;

(vi)  Officers outlined the ‘Century of Stories’ project which was a £420,000 project to commemorate the First World War, planned to coincide with the centenary next year of the outbreak of the conflict. A Century of Stories would see displays and exhibitions touring libraries and community centres across Leicestershire over four years beginning in August 2014. The project was designed to give communities an empowered approach to heritage and allow people to reflect on the common purpose of the First World War. The project hinged on the County Council securing a £315,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund;

(vii) Members suggested that it would useful to have a breakdown of the categories of books and other items issued by libraries.         

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the report be noted;

(b)  That information on the categories of books and other items issued by libraries be circulated to all members of the Committee.