Agenda and minutes

Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 17th November, 2016 10.00 am

Venue: Committee Suite 1,2 & 3, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ. View directions

Contact: Katie Small  Scrutiny Officer

Link: Audio recording

Items
No. Item

10.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor E Brooks

11.

Minutes of the Last Meeting pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To give consideration to the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2017

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2016.

 

RESOLVED

 

The minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

12.

Declarations of Interest

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest

13.

Whipping Declarations

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

 

Minutes:

There were no whipping declarations

14.

Public Speaking

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

 

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

 

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered.

 

Minutes:

Parish Councillor K Edwards attended the meeting and spoke in respect of item 6 – Developing a Sustainable Libraries Service. He welcomed the detailed scrutiny of the service and requested that the Council work closely with Town and Parish Councils to ensure the best possible outcome for residents.

15.

Developing a Sustainable Libraries Service pdf icon PDF 70 KB

To scrutinise the progress made in implementing the Sustainable Libraries Strategy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee scrutinised the success of implementing the Sustainable Libraries Strategy which was introduced in April 2014. In April 2013 the Council set the service the challenge of making £1m annual savings by 2016, whilst also setting the ambition to buck the national trend of declining library usage and develop community hubs that appealed to a wider audience.

 

P Bayley informed the Committee that library usage had increased and a customer survey had been sent out over autumn to help the service understand what customers thought of the changes made, the results of which were yet to be analysed.

 

The libraries strategy would be refreshed by April 2017, which will set out how the service would continue to develop and evolve to meet customer expectations while responding to growing financial pressure.

 

The following comments were made:

 

·         That the opening hours and possibility of opening evenings be revisited.

·         The signage to Crewe Library needs improving as tis could be a reason for the drop in visitor figures.

·         A drinks machine would only be provided if there were no local provision.

·         All staff would receive safeguarding training and dealing with difficult customers.

·         The Council was committed to the mobile library service as it recognised the social value for many residents.

·         Consideration should be given to whether or not there are too many libraries in some areas.

 

It was agreed that the draft Libraries Strategy would be considered by the Committee in March 2017.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the report be endorsed

2.    That the Committee consider the draft Libraries Strategy in March 2017

 

16.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 39 KB

To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

 

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the areas of the forward plan which fell within the remit of the Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the forward plan be received

17.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 75 KB

To give consideration to the work programme

Additional documents:

Minutes:

consideration was given to the work programme. It was agreed that the Community Cohesion Strategy would be considered by the Committee in March 2017.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Community Cohesion Strategy be added to the work programme for March 2017.