Agenda item

Report of Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture

The Committee considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture regarding Staffordshire Libraries and Arts Service’s offer in support of the priorities contained in the County Council Strategic Plan 2022-2026 (schedule 3 to the signed minutes).

Members heard that the Library Service helped to connect communities, improve health and wellbeing, digital inclusion and promoted equality through learning, literacy and cultural activity, through the delivery of four national Universal Library Offers (ie:- (i) Health and Wellbeing; (ii) Reading; (iii) Culture and Creativity and; (iv) Information and Digital). In turn, these Offers were underpinned by two national Library Promises (ie the Children’s Promise and the Print and Impaired People’s Promise).

The Library Service had fully recovered their offer following the Covid-19 pandemic and was delivering a varied programme of physical and virtual activity to support County Council’s strategic priorities including:- (i) the establishment and further development of Start-up Information Hubs with grant-aid from Arts Council England; (ii) delivery of various initiatives to improve adult literacy with funding from Central Government; (iii) delivery of the Be Your Health Programme with grant-aid from Health Education England; (iv) partnership working with NHS Knowledge and Library Service, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust and Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to design an initiative aimed at improving access to health and digital literacy information for young people in the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Burton-on-Trent areas; (v) participation the Moonbeams Early Years Action Research Programme investigating the development of language and communication through arts and creativity and; (vi) delivery of the national Green Libraries and Changing Climates, Changing Lifestyles initiatives.

In addition, members were updated on proposals for the development of library buildings in Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth, Cannock, Leek and Kidsgrove together with efforts by the Service to support residents through a period of dramatic rises in the cost of living.

During the full and wide-ranging discussion which ensued, Members gave detailed scrutiny to the efforts being made by the Libraries and Arts Services to support the priorities contained in the Strategic Plan, asking questions, seeking clarification and raising areas of concern as necessary, including:- (i) how the Community Libraries offer could be further improved by harmonising services with those provided by Local Authority run libraries; (ii) the need to improve communication with ‘Local’ Members regarding library services within their Divisions (including Wilnecote and Shenstone Libraries) particularly in respect of visits by Central Government and other national bodies; (iii) promotion of Library buildings as warm spaces during winter 2022/23 having regard to the cost of living crises and; (iv) opportunities for promotion of healthy lifestyles in libraries.

In conclusion Members welcomed news regarding the Libraries and Arts offer and expressed their support for the overall direction of travel for the Service during the period covered by the Strategic Plan. However, they undertook to keep the service under close review and give further scrutiny in the future, as necessary.

Note by Clerk: The meeting became inquorate during consideration of this Agenda item following departure of a Member from the meeting room. However, a quorum was restored once the Member had returned and before the following decisions were made.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted.

(b) That the future direction of travel for the Libraries and Art Service during the period of the Strategic Plan 2022-2026, be supported.

(c) That the Cabinet Member be urged to have regard to their comments in seeking to improve the operational performance of the Service, particularly in respect of communication with ‘Local’ Members.