Public Consultation Plan

Sustainability plan for Brighton & Hove Libraries

July – October 2025

Summary

This document provides an overview and timeline of Brighton & Hove Library Services’ public consultation plan. It outlines how the savings targets set at Brighton & Hove City Council Budget 2025/26 might be met whilst maintaining the local authority’s legal duty under the Public Libraries and Museum Act 1964 “to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all those who live, work or study and want to access the service”.

The Council also has a duty to develop its library services in consultation with those who live, work or study in Brighton & Hove and undertake statutory consultation on any significant service changes.

Proposal

Following a detailed Part 1 needs and use analysis it is proposed that Hollingbury, Rottingdean and Westdene Libraries be closed completely and opening hours in Jubilee and Hove Libraries be reduced, each by 5 hours weekly, from 01 April 2026.

Service Offer

Hollingbury Library is housed in a room within the Old Boat Community Centre. It is staffed one day a week. Customers can enter and use the room every day of the week, however due to anti-social behaviour in the centre and operational challenges opening hours are currently restricted.

There is a mix of staffed and Libraries Extra (LE) days operating in Rottingdean and Westdene Libraries. Libraries Extra enables customers to visit libraries outside staffed hours using an enhanced membership card.

Full details outlining the current opening hours of all libraries in Brighton & Hove may be found at Our libraries and their opening times

The libraries that would be affected by the proposed closure and reductions are currently open -

Current Hours
	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Hollingbury	Open Access 9-5	Open Access 9-5	Open Access 9-5	Staffed 9 – 1 2 - 5	Open Access 9 - 5	Open Access 9 - 5	Open Access 9 - 5
Rottingdean	Staffed 9 - 5	LE 9 - 7	Staffed9 - 5	LE 9 - 7	LE 9 - 5	LE 9 - 5	LE 9 - 5
Westdene	LE 9 - 7	Staffed9 - 5	LE 9 - 7	LE 9 -7	LE 9 - 5	LE 9 - 5	LE 9 - 5
Jubilee	10 - 7	10 - 7	10 - 5	10 - 7	10 - 5	10 - 5	11 - 5
Hove	10 - 5	10 - 5	10 - 7	10 - 5	10 - 5	10 - 5	Closed

If Proposals Agreed

If the proposals are agreed, Hollingbury, Rottingdean and Westdene Libraries will close completely. The proposed revised hours in Jubilee and Hove are highlighted below -

Revised Hours
	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Jubilee	10 - 5	10 - 7	10 - 5	10 - 7	10 - 5	10 - 5	11 - 2
Hove	10 - 5	10 - 5	10 - 5	10 - 5	10 - 5	10 - 2	Closed

Timeline

The public consultation is proposed to run for 12 weeks from 18 July – 10 October.

The consultation programme

We will aim to ensure that as many service users, stakeholders, partners and non-library users are able to have their say on the proposals.  An email address is available at libraries.consultation@brighton-hove.gov.uk and will be publicised for individual enquiries and for information.

Activities will include

· A consultation survey available through ‘Your Voice’, Brighton & Hove City Council’s online consultation service, which will be promoted on council web pages, library and council social media and via partners helping to disseminate details. Paper copies will be available in all libraries, Family Hubs, the Homelessness Helpdesk at Bartholomew’s House, Hove Town Hall and at key places within the local communities potentially affected by the changes.

· A link to the online survey will be promoted throughout all library buildings, utilising a QR code for ease of access.

· Existing partners and community groups will be approached and asked to assist with engaging non library users with the consultation.

· Council Help Desks and Family Hubs will promote to their visitors.

· Links to the consultation will be sent to all book, craft and other community groups which meet regularly in libraries.

· A Brighton & Hove City Council Councillor and a senior officer will attend drop-in sessions and public engagement meetings in proposed locations affected and for those interested city-wide – details below:

Date	Time	Location	Engagement
Tuesday 22 July	18.00 – 19.30	Online	Presentation, Q&A
Tuesday 29 July	14.00 – 16.00	Westdene Library	Drop In, Q&A
Thursday 31 July	14.00 – 16.00	Hollingbury	Drop in Q&A
Wednesday 27 August	17.00-19.00	Hove Town Hall	Presentation Q&A
Tuesday 09 September	18.00 – 20.00	Rottingdean	Presentation Q&A
Wednesday 01 October	19.00 – 21.00	Jubilee	Presentation Q&A
Wednesday 07 October	10.00 – 11.30	Online	Presentation Q&A

The consultation will gather information around themes asking the respondents to tell us about

· Why, when, where and how they use library services

· What services they use when physically visiting a library and when accessing services remotely eg eBooks, eAudio and online resources

· How much they agree or disagree with each individual proposal

· Which other libraries they could visit if their nearest library were to close and reasons for not being able to visit any other library

· There will be an opportunity for survey respondents to provide any further information they wish to including any alternative solutions and suggestions for alternative delivery models

The consultation will be advertised through various communication channels including

· Press Releases

· Social Media - Council and Library Facebook & Instagram

· Posters & Flyers containing a QR code to Your Voice Survey

The consultation will be anonymous, although respondents are asked to complete an optional ‘About You’ section at the end for equalities monitoring purposes.

Equalities implications and mitigations

Steps will be taken before and during the public consultation to ensure the widest range of voices are heard and that implications are fully understood. The service will communicate about the consultation with a wide range of council services, community groups, organisations and networks asking them to share with their networks and support consultation engagement where possible.

A young person friendly and easy read versions of the proposals will be available.

Analysis

A detailed report analysing data and information collected from questionnaires and public engagement activities will be published in time for consideration and a decision to be taken by Cabinet on 11 December 2025.

Analysis of the responses received via the public consultation (a survey, public meetings, emails and written correspondence) will be analysed from an equalities perspective. This will ensure that impact affecting protected characteristics and wider equalities matters are considered in relation to discrimination, inclusion and equity. This will also be done from an intersectional perspective, recognising that discrimination and exclusion can be amplified for those with multiple characteristics that can put them at risk of disadvantage.