Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Community Services & Safety

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/234

Contact: Mark Haynes, Director for Customer & Cultural Services Tel: 07586 479051

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA9).

A draft Libraries and Heritage Strategy: 2022 - 2027 was approved by Cabinet on 21^st December 2021 subject to public consultation.  This report details the consultation approach and sets out the key themes arising from the consultation. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)              Note the outcome of the public consultation on the Libraries and Heritage Strategy

b)              Delegate the responsibility for the adoption and implementation of the strategy to the Portfolio Holder for Community Services and Safety and the Corporate Director for Customers, Organisational Development and Resources and the project team. 

c)              Agree that an annual review of the actions to deliver the strategy is reported to Cabinet and the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Recommendations agreed.

A draft Libraries and Heritage Strategy: 2022 - 2027 was approved by Cabinet on 21st December 2021 subject to public consultation. Cabinet considered a report detailing the consultation approach and setting out the key themes arising from the consultation.

Before discussing the report, the Chair agreed to requests to speak.

District Councillor Julian Cooper and Councillor Andy Graham, both representing Woodstock, asked that the provision of a permanent library for Woodstock be prioritised as the library was unable to provide as good a service in its temporary cramped location.

The Cabinet Member for Community Services & Safety agreed that providing a permanent building for Woodstock was a priority.  She wished to acknowledge that her predecessor, Councillor Neil Fawcett, had steered this strategy through the engagement process.  There had been an extraordinary level of agreement on the strategy.

Libraries should be accessible, interesting places at the hub of the community.  Some needed improvement.  She intended to ensure that all libraries will have the new services being planned.

RESOLVED:

a)              Note the outcome of the public consultation on the Libraries and Heritage Strategy

b)              Delegate the responsibility for the adoption and implementation of the strategy to the Portfolio Holder for Community Services and Safety and the Corporate Director for Customer, Organisational Development and Resources and the project team. 

c)              Agree that an annual review of the actions to deliver the strategy is reported to Cabinet and the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee.