Agenda item

11.1

To provide an update and ask the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee to endorse the current extended Library Opening Hours. The report further sets out a proposal to open all Council run libraries from lunchtime for one day each month to allow for staff training and development.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee:

1.     notes the contents of the report;

2.     notes the data analysis in Appendix 1;

3.     endorses the change in opening hours and that these will continue as the standard opening hours for Council run libraries; and

4.     approves the proposal for Council run libraries to open at a later time on day per month to allow for staff training and development.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The new opening hours provide library customers with the optimum available hours.

11.3.2

The new opening hours provide stable staff resources.

11.3.3

The proposed monthly half day late opening will enable investment in our staff, furthering their development and ensuring they can offer the highest quality service to customers.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

We could revert to the original opening hours. However, the way our service is currently structured, coupled with our available budget resources, mean that we would not be able to offer our customers consistency or the high-quality service they are now receiving.

11.4.2

Operating the previous opening hours often meant that we had to close our libraries at short notice because we cannot provide the right resources and the new opening hours has mostly prevented this from happening once the Service recruited to a significant number of vacancies over the summer of 2023.

11.4.3

There may be opportunities to integrate and co-locate library services with other government and partner agencies who share library values in the future, and we will continue to explore these opportunities. Any changes would need to include an impact assessment for customers and would be subject to further consultation.

11.4.4

There is an option to pay additional overtime for staff training and development. However, this would adversely impact our staff teams as they would need to complete all training and development activities outside of their normal working hours and full-time staff would routinely work 6 days a week. This would also adversely impact the libraries budget which is already committed to savings targets.

11.4.5

There is an option to not close our libraries for half a day each month to allow for staff training and development. However, this would mean that staff would need to take ad hoc time out of their working day to complete the necessary training, one to ones and any personal development. This would likely have an impact on customers as libraries would not be able to provide a consistent service.

11.1

The Head of Libraries and Archive Services presented a report that provided an update on the current extended opening hours for libraries and sought endorsement from the Committee for the opening hours. The report also sought approval to open all Council run libraries from lunchtime for one day each month to allow for staff training and development.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee:

1.     notes the contents of the report;

2.     notes the data analysis in Appendix 1;

3.     endorses the change in opening hours and that these will continue as the standard opening hours for Council run libraries; and

4.     approves the proposal for Council run libraries to open at a later time on day per month to allow for staff training and development.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The new opening hours provide library customers with the optimum available hours.

11.3.2

The new opening hours provide stable staff resources.

11.3.3

The proposed monthly half day late opening will enable investment in our staff, furthering their development and ensuring they can offer the highest quality service to customers.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

We could revert to the original opening hours. However, the way our service is currently structured, coupled with our available budget resources, mean that we would not be able to offer our customers consistency or the high-quality service they are now receiving.

11.4.2

Operating the previous opening hours often meant that we had to close our libraries at short notice because we cannot provide the right resources and the new opening hours has mostly prevented this from happening once the Service recruited to a significant number of vacancies over the summer of 2023.

11.4.3

There may be opportunities to integrate and co-locate library services with other government and partner agencies who share library values in the future, and we will continue to explore these opportunities. Any changes would need to include an impact assessment for customers and would be subject to further consultation.

11.4.4

There is an option to pay additional overtime for staff training and development. However, this would adversely impact our staff teams as they would need to complete all training and development activities outside of their normal working hours and full-time staff would routinely work 6 days a week. This would also adversely impact the libraries budget which is already committed to savings targets.

11.4.5

There is an option to not close our libraries for half a day each month to allow for staff training and development. However, this would mean that staff would need to take ad hoc time out of their working day to complete the necessary training, one to ones and any personal development. This would likely have an impact on customers as libraries would not be able to provide a consistent service.