Agenda item

(To receive a report from the Louise Egan, Library and Heritage Client Lead, which provides an update of the contract performance information to enable the Committee to fulfil its role in scrutinising performance of the third year of the out-sourced Library Contract to Greenwich Leisure Limited)

Consideration was given to a report by the Library and Heritage Client Lead, which provided an update of the contract performance information to enable the Committee to fulfil its role in scrutinising performance of the third year of the out-sourced Library contract to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

Members were advised that GLL had continued to make significant improvements to the Library Service over the past three years and had now exceeded the 2 million lending milestone, as well as maintaining a 100% satisfaction rate, as reported in the GLL Annual User Survey.

GLL had held a number of successful events over the year, including the annual Summer Reading Challenge, which had proven to be extremely successful.

Members were informed that LCC had approved an IT project across the whole library domain, which should see significant improvements to the IT services offered across all of the libraries.

The Chairman welcomed the Library Partnership Manager - GLL, who provided an insight into the work carried out by GLL across Lincolnshire's libraries and communities.

It was noted that over the last year, GLL had been working to connect with communities outside of the library service by looking at more bespoke services could be offered and communicating to people what GLL can offer as a library service.

GLL had worked on projects with the National Centre for Craft and Design, and Bishop Grosseteste University to offer projects and exhibitions to the public. There was also a strong focus on wellbeing within the library services, having participated in Mental Health Awareness Month and other wellbeing events.

The Library Partnerships Manager emphasised the success of the summer reading challenge and the impact that it could have on children and families within Lincolnshire.

The Library and Heritage Client Lead explained that officers were working with LCC to support Health and Wellbeing within communities, as part of the services offered by the Library Service and community hubs.

Members were invited to ask questions, in which the following points were noted:

·       It was confirmed that Grantham library had not yet transferred to GLL and was still operating as a LCC library. Officers had discussed potential options and were pursuing these further.

·       It was noted that the Key Performance Indicators would be reviewed should LCC renew their contract with GLL.

·       Officers explained that other than the requirement to offer a library service, Community Hubs were independent to LCC in terms of the activities they offered. There was regular communication between the Hubs and both GLL and LCC officers and an annual review was undertaken in which officers met with Community Hubs to discuss ideas around improving services or addressing standards of behaviour.

·       Members were advised that as part of the majority of Hubs' tenancy agreements which restricted certain activities.

·       It was explained that each Community Hub had a minimum number of hours that they must be open to the public, but they were able to increase their opening hours if they wished to do so.

·       The Executive Support Councillor for Culture and Emergency Services commended the Partnership work that GLL were involved in across the County, and thanked officers and leisure partners for recognising the differences across the county.

·       Members recognised the importance of the Library Service to communities and the positive impact that reading could make to children and families.  

·       The committee thanked both LCC and GLL for their hard work and success on improving the Library Service across Lincolnshire.

RESOLVED:

1.    That support be offered by the committee to the ongoing development and        proposed 'Year 4 Developments' highlighted in the report;

2.    That the committee were satisfied that no additional priorities be highlighted for consideration.