Decisions

The West Bar Square Update report was approved by Cabinet on 17^th March in which approval was sought to approval the proposals within the report, one of which related to the rental loan from the JESSICA Fund.

The report also delegated authority to the Executive Director Place in consultation with the Executive Director Resources and the Director of Legal and Governance to finalise, agree and execute the terms of the agreements and the terms of any other documentation required to give effect to the proposals set out in this report and generally to protect the Council’s interests

This report summarises the terms of the Facility Agreement and seeks authority to enter into the Facility Agreement and a Back to Back Agreement.

That the Executive Director of Place:

1.    Approves the Council entering into the JESSICA Facility Agreement on the terms set out in this report;

2.    Approves the Council entering into the Back to Back Agreement with Urbo (West Bar) Ltd on the terms set out in this report; and

3.    Approves formal confirmation being given to Urbo and Legal & General confirming that the Council is not going to terminate the April 2020 agreement.

In November 2016 Cabinet approved the report ‘Library Review 2016 – Future support arrangements for Volunteer run libraries’.  This report set out its recommendations to provide funding and support to volunteer run Associate and Co-delivered Libraries from 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2020. 

The decision on funding and support for years 2020/21 and 2021/22 was delegated to the Cabinet Member and Executive Director.  

Therefore, the purpose of the report is to seek approval for future funding and support for Associate and Co-delivered libraries for years 2020/21 and 2021/22 from the Executive Director and Cabinet Member.

NB This decision record is being published in April 2021 as there was an administration error that meant the original decision was not logged with Democratic Services at the time. All due consultation was made at the time with Cllr Mary Lea as cabinet member for Culture, Parks and Leisure and reconfirmed with her 12/3/21.

That the Council:

(1)  Continue support for Associate libraries until 31^st March 2022 to assist their viability and stability with a support package to the value of £209k. 

(2)  The support package to include a grant pot, a new book fund,  a training package and the operational costs of the Associate libraries remaining on the Library Management System. A breakdown of the support package is listed in Section 1.4 ‘Specific Requests of the Proposal’. 

(3)  Continued support for the Associate and Co-delivered libraries until 31^st March 2022 where this can be resourced by the Library, Archives and Information Service (LAIS) with existing staff and core budget. This includes support from SCC run Hub libraries, advice and support with local and national initiatives, I.T support and training relating to the Library Management System.

(4)  Continued support for Co-delivered libraries to 31^st March 2022. Co-delivered libraries receive the same offer as SCC’s Hub libraries without the staffing and funded from LAIS core funding.  Building running costs are paid directly by SLAIS.  Co-delivered libraries may be re-charged for running costs that are above the budget due to extended non-library usage of the building.

NB This decision record is being published in April 2021 as there was an administration error that meant the original decision was not logged with Democratic Services at the time. All due consultation was made at the time with Cllr Mary Lea as cabinet member for Culture, Parks and Leisure and reconfirmed with her 12/3/21.