Agenda item - Libraries Plan 2009/12

Report of the Director of Cultural Services (copy attached).

51.1       Councillor David Smith formerly moved the report, which sought approval of the Libraries Plan for 2009/2012.  The plan set out the council’s vision for the service, built on recent successes and outlined the priorities and objectives for the next three years, in the context of the overall plans and ambitions for the city as a whole.  Councillor Smith noted that there was an intention to extend the opening hours of Hove Library to 1.30 – 5.30pm and a proposal would be brought forward in the budget papers, which if approved would be implemented in April 2009.

51.2        Councillor Elgood welcomed the report and the commitment to extending the opening hours of Hove Library.  He wished to pay tribute to the library staff for bringing the plan forward and for their tremendous work throughout the city.  He hoped that the mobile library service would be maintained and that the use of libraries within the city would buck the national trend that had seen numbers fall.

51.3       Councillor Randall welcomed the report and noted that it had been considered by the Culture, Tourism & Enterprise Overview & Scrutiny Committee, which had made a number of recommendations that had been taken on board and was a good example of how well the new scrutiny system could work.  He was concerned about the level of access to libraries and hoped ways could be found to extend opening hours throughout the service and local libraries utilised as community assets.

51.4       Councillor Davis welcomed the report and acknowledged the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in enabling the revised plan to come forward.  She also welcomed the proposal to extend the opening hours at Hove and hoped similar extensions could be achieved in other libraries.

51.5       Councillor Smith thanked the councillors for their supportive comments and noted the requests for further consideration to be given to improving access.

51.6       The Mayor noted that the recommendations of the report had moved and sought confirmation from the council.

51.7       RESOLVED – That the Libraries Plan 2009-2012 be endorsed.