1 THE ISSUE

1.1 Following an internal review of the two mobile library routes, this report details the outcomes and seeks Cabinet Member approval to consult on proposed changes to provide for a more equitable, efficient and quality assured service throughout Bath and North East Somerset.

2 RECOMMENDATION

The Cabinet member is asked to agree that:

2.1 Consultation on the pattern of new opening hours as detailed in appendix 1 and carried out as outlined in appendix 3 will commence from August 2009

2.2 A further report is requested following the consultation process for final approval of the proposed changes.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 The opening hours review has assessed the costs of the service and has identified a combined saving in fuel costs of £1,000. This, coupled with increased hours that the mobiles will be open to the public (i.e. less travelling between stops) will reduce the overall cost of the service marginally while ensuring the quality of service remains.

4 CORPORATE PRIORITIES

• Building communities where people feel safe and secure
• Promoting the independence of older people
• Addressing the causes and effects of Climate Change

5 THE REPORT

5.1 The review of the mobile library service is seeking to achieve the following outcomes:

• To increase the actual number of hours open to the public to access stock, use computers (at stops with connectivity), time to meet neighbours etc - community role of mobiles enhanced.
• To create a new mobile libraries timetable within existing budgets, which is easier to understand, less complex and therefore enable easier marketing and promotion of stops
• To remove BD hour or less stops and instead remain at most locations for at least half a day and to visit each stop weekly rather than fortnightly so that it is easier for people to fit a trip to the mobile into their schedule - a bigger window of opportunity, and which would also enable individuals or groups to use Ring and Ride to visit the stop.
• To create opportunities for partnership working, i.e. longer stops make it easier to `sell' the idea of sharing the `stop' to other organisations such as the Police Service to carry out community activities whilst the mobile library is present.
• To ensure that the mobiles:
  cover the areas of greatest need and demand,
  provide an acceptable level of geographical coverage
  offers the maximum opportunity for people to access the service
• To make arrangements where possible to meet the needs of isolated residents with limited mobility
• To enable savings in fuel costs

5.2 As this is a major change to the current delivery of library services via the mobile libraries, it is important that as many people as possible get full information about the proposed new opening hours and the consultation, and that people are clear about how they can feed back their views during the consultation period. A full communications plan is being prepared to ensure that the proposals are clearly explained as widely as possible, that people have a variety of ways they can feed back their views and that people understand what may happen as a result of the consultation process. Communication tools to be used will include leaflets in libraries, articles in Council publications, meetings at parish locations with Parish Forums and information on the Council's website. Results of the consultation will be reported back to the Cabinet Member once the consultation period is over when formal confirmation of the new pattern of opening hours is sought.

6 RISK MANAGEMENT

6.1 The report author and Cabinet member have fully reviewed the risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance.

7 EQUALITIES

7.1 An Equalities Impact Assessment has been carried out on these proposals, in accordance with Council guidelines.

8 RATIONALE

8.1 The overall outcome in the proposal identified in appendix 1 provides for a more consistent, efficient and quality service developed to allow for community enhancement and involvement

9 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

9.1 Other options focused on various permutations of opening hours. Other permutations were considered but did not indicate they would deliver the ability to cover as wide a geographical area as possible, and did not provide the consistency pattern required.

10 CONSULTATION

10.1 Ward Councillors; Cabinet members; Parish Council; Town Council; Trades Unions; Overview & Scrutiny Panel; Staff; Other B&NES Services; Service Users; Local Residents; Community Interest Groups; Stakeholders/Partners; Other Public Sector Bodies;; Section 151 Finance Officer;; Monitoring Officer

10.2 Consultation will be carried out as per the plan attached as appendix 3. It will focus on the pattern of opening hours as indicated in appendix 1.

11 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

11.1 Social Inclusion; Customer Focus; Sustainability; Young People; Human Rights; Health & Safety; Impact on Staff;

12 ADVICE SOUGHT

12.1 The Council's Monitoring Officer (Council Solicitor) and Section 151 Officer (Strategic Director - Support Services) have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication.

Contact person	Mrs June Brassington, Library Services Manager. Tel: 01225 396424
Background papers
Please contact the report author if you need to access this report in an alternative format