Agenda item

(To receive a report by Louise Egan, Library and Heritage Client Lead, which provides an update on the Community Hub Model)

10:21am – Councillor A M Key returned to the meeting.

Consideration was given to a report by Louise Egan, Library and Heritage Client Lead which invited the Committee to consider and comment on the information included in the report and highlight any additional priorities for consideration.

Members were advised that community hubs received a small financial support from Lincolnshire County Council and professional operational support from Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the Council's outsource library provider and were open for a minimum of six hours a week and that's for 50 weeks of the year.

The community hub model was operating successfully, despite the on-going restrictions that had been put in place as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, many communities had relied on community hubs.

However, the library service had been heavily impacted due to the pandemic, as many of the volunteers were classed as vulnerable and therefore were unable to continue delivering the service at many sites.

In line with the central government requirements sites were shut temporarily during the lockdowns that were put in place in March 2020 and January 2021. Prior to reopening, each site was subject to a rigorous risk assessment process with each and every community hub, to ensure the safety of both the volunteers and customers and services had returned subject to safety measures.

The Committee considered the report and during the discussion the following points were noted:

·       In 2017, Learning Communities, who operated the Ermine Community Hub went into administration and ceased the delivery of services to the Ermine Community Hub. Rather than close the site, GLL had taken on the operation of the site until 2020 when sites were closed due the covid-19 pandemic. However, due to staffing issues GLL had needed to prioritise the continuation of services that they were contractually obligated to deliver, and therefore the Ermine Community Hub was temporarily closed. The Council are currently in the process of formalising a contract with Bishop Grosseteste University to undertake the management of the Ermine Community Hub site in the coming months.  Councillor Mrs N F Clarke requested to be kept up to date with progress.

·       Councillor Mrs N F Clarke requested that the St Giles area be considered as a location for community hub.

·       The Executive Councillor for Fire & Rescue and Cultural Services thanked officers and GLL colleagues for their work to continue to offer online services. In spite of the pandemic, the community hub model had continued to be successful. The Executive Councillor also recorded her thanks to the Library and Heritage Client Lead and Councillor K Lee for their work on the proposed contract with Bishop Grosseteste University which would provide a further library service in Lincoln. 

·       Community Hubs were used by LCC, Police and NHS colleagues to hold meetings and operate drop in centres. Officers continued to explore opportunities further to ensure connection point and can meet needs of communities. 

·       The Committee were encouraged by the success and popularity of Community Hubs and their role in combating social isolation.

·       The team made use of LCC social media channels and the County New magazine to highlight the strengths of the Community Hub model.

·       The Committee thanked the council and GLL colleagues for their work to promote the community hub model.

·       The Libraries and Heritage Client Lead was part of continued discussions with LCC’s property team to resolve an issue with disruption caused by a particular community hub. The Library and Heritage Client Lead agreed to liaise with Councillor J Brockway to find a solution. Members were reassured that prior to being established, all community hubs went through a business application process which identified what the site was permitted to be used for and whether that was within the needs of the residents within the local area.

·       The Library and Client Heritage Lead agreed to send an invitation to Councillor K Lee for the meeting to discuss the Ermine site.

·       Community Hubs were used for a range of reasons, including more recently for the use of covid-19 vaccination sites.

·       It was acknowledged that in more rural villages, a lack of public transport provision could be an obstacle for some residents wishing to attend their community hubs which could lead to social isolation. Members were reassured that transport links were considered when establishing each community hub and online provision was also made available.

·       There was the capacity to open four more community hubs across the County. Application packs could be provided on request. Library and Client Heritage Lead would liaise with Councillor A M Key on the process of applying for a new Community hub.

·       It was questioned whether the purchasing of new IT equipment as a result of the pandemic had led to a decrease in people using library facilities within the community hubs. Officers were monitoring the patterns of usage for libraries to identify any possible changes which could be made to increase usage. The Council were promoting the library offer as well as publicising the additional safety measures that were in place at the current time.

·       Books no longer needed to be quarantined upon being returned to libraries. There were a number of methods in place to ensure the safety of the public which included sanitising stations, socially distanced study spaces, Perspex screens and encouraging the use of mask wearing.

RESOLVED:

That the report and comments made be noted.