Agenda item

“This Council supports the work undertaken by members and officers in developing an ambitious Libraries and Heritage Services Strategy, both under the previous administration and the present one.

This Council recognises the funding challenges that face local authorities in their provision of such services, which long predate the current Government and whose services may sometimes be characterised by an era of local government that has long since disappeared.

Given the importance of developer contributions for the provision of, and realisation of improvements to, such vital services, this Council calls on the Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Services to establish a Cabinet Advisory Group to ensure inter alia that the Council’s strategy is:

i.            properly funded;

ii.          sensibly delivered against agreed key performance indicators; and

iii.         cognisant of the need to have the right libraries in the right places, rather than those in which they have historically been placed.

Without prejudice to its work, such a CAG could also advise the Leader and relevant Cabinet Member on:

i.            parts of the county and the country in which libraries have facilitated or hosted joint services, thereby increasing use of public libraries; and

ii.          the wealth and scope of College, University and other private library facilities that exist in Oxfordshire with a view to investigating the possibility of making such facilities – whether wholly or in part – more readily available to residents and, more particularly, adult learners, consistent with the Government’s Lifelong Learning Guarantee.”

Councillor Eddie Reeves moved and Councillor Yvonne Constance seconded a Motion without notice in accordance with Council Procedure Rule (14.1(v)) to withdraw his Motion. The Motion was put to the vote and was lost by 28 votes to 21, with 1 abstention.

Councillor Eddie Reeves moved and Councillor Yvonne Constance seconded the following Motion:

“This Council supports the work undertaken by members and officers in developing an ambitious Libraries and Heritage Services Strategy, both under the previous administration and the present one.

This Council recognises the funding challenges that face local authorities in their provision of such services, which long predate the current Government and whose services may sometimes be characterised by an era of local government that has long since disappeared.

Given the importance of developer contributions for the provision of, and realisation of improvements to, such vital services, this Council calls on the Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Services to establish a Cabinet Advisory Group to ensure inter alia that the Council’s strategy is:

i.            properly funded;

ii.          sensibly delivered against agreed key performance indicators; and

iii.         cognisant of the need to have the right libraries in the right places, rather than those in which they have historically been placed.

Without prejudice to its work, such a CAG could also advise the Leader and relevant Cabinet Member on:

i.            parts of the county and the country in which libraries have facilitated or hosted joint services, thereby increasing use of public libraries; and

ii.          the wealth and scope of College, University and other private library facilities that exist in Oxfordshire with a view to investigating the possibility of making such facilities – whether wholly or in part – more readily available to residents and, more particularly, adult learners, consistent with the Government’s Lifelong Learning Guarantee.”

Councillor Brad Baines moved and Councillor Hannah Banfield seconded the following amendment as shown below in bold italics and strikethrough below:

“This Council supports the work undertaken by members and officers in developing an ambitious Libraries and Heritage Services Strategy. both under the previous administration and the present one. 

This Council recognises the funding challenges that face local authorities in their provision of such services, which long predate the current Government and whose services may sometimes be characterised by an era of local government that has long since disappeared. regrets that Library Services across England have been devastated by over a decade of savage cuts by Government to local councils. National funding for libraries has fallen by almost £300 million since 2010, forcing the closure of over 800 libraries in England. 

This Council recognises that libraries form the heart of local communities and that further cuts to Local Government only undermine this Council’s ability to ensure our Library Service can deliver for those who need and benefit from libraries the most.  

Given the importance of developer contributions for the provision of, and realisation of improvements to, such vital services, this Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Community Services to establish a Cabinet Advisory Group engage directly with members to ensure inter alia that the Council’s strategy is: 

i.             properly funded; 

ii.          sensibly delivered against agreed key performance indicators; and 

iii.         cognisant of the need to have the right libraries in the right places, rather than those in which they have historically been    placed. 

Without prejudice to itsthis work, such a CAG members could also advise the Leader and relevant Cabinet Member on: 

i.            parts of the county and the country in which libraries have facilitated or hosted joint services, thereby increasing use of public libraries; and 

ii.          the wealth and scope of College, University and other private library facilities that exist in Oxfordshire with a view to investigating the possibility of making such facilities – whether wholly or in part – more readily available to residents. and, more particularly, adult learners, consistent with the Government’s Lifelong Learning Guarantee.” 

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was carried by 32 votes to 18, with 1 abstention.

The substantive Motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried by 31 votes to 19, with 1 abstention.

RESOLVED: (31 votes to 19, 1 abstention)

“This Council supports the work undertaken by members and officers in developing an ambitious Libraries and Heritage Services Strategy.  

This Council regrets that Library Services across England have been devastated by over a decade of savage cuts by Government to local councils. National funding for libraries has fallen by almost £300 million since 2010, forcing the closure of over 800 libraries in England.

This Council recognises that libraries form the heart of local communities and that further cuts to Local Government only undermine this Council’s ability to ensure our Library Service can deliver for those who need and benefit from libraries the most.

Given the importance of developer contributions for the provision of, and realisation of improvements to, such vital services, this Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Community Services to engage directly with members to ensure that the Council’s strategy is:

i.             properly funded; 

ii.          sensibly delivered against agreed key performance indicators; and 

iii.         cognisant of the need to have the right libraries in the right places, rather than those in which they have historically been placed.

Without prejudice to this work, members could also advise the relevant Cabinet Member on:

i.            parts of the county and the country in which libraries have facilitated or hosted joint services, and 

ii.          the wealth and scope of College, University and other private facilities in Oxfordshire with a view to investigating the possibility of making such facilities available to residents.”