Receive (if any)

+ Apologies were received for the absence of Councillor Osman Dervish substituted by Councillor Damian White, Councillor Robby Misir substituted by Councillor Christine Smith. Councillor John Wood also gave an apology for absence.

The Sub-Committee noted the apology from the Councillor Gillian Ford (Cabinet Member) who had received a late notification of this meeting but she had a prior invitation to the Sports Council Awards evening which was arranged well in advance of tonight's meeting.

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting.  Members may still declare an interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no disclosures of interests.

Report attached for predecision scrutiny.

At the request of the Sub-Committee, a pre decision scrutiny was undertaken to review the Council’s budget setting exercise for 2023-24 that included proposals to reduce the revenue budget of the Council’s library service by £300,000 over two years.

This prompted the production of a Library Strategy that would set out how the library service would function in the next few years. The Council’s current statutory library provision consists of ten library sites, together with the Home Library service, the local studies library and a digital and online library.

It was noted in the report that amongst other things, the Library Strategy provided for the potential closure of 4 out of 5 branch libraries.

The report considered the outcome of the consultation on the draft Library Strategy that sought views of stakeholders on the Strategy and on the option for the Council to close up to four branch libraries.

It was explained that following careful analysis of all the responses received during the consultation including the public survey, stakeholder feedback, petitions and correspondence received, the condition of the libraries, the Council’s ability to invest capital, and the Council funding gap it was considered that Council funding for three branch libraries should cease. It was noted that the result in the consequential loss of service of three branch libraries that were recommended to close on 31 March 2025 and achieve an annual saving of £288k.

It was stated that against a backdrop of continuing significant financial pressures for the Council, which included the need to request exceptional financial support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in order to set a balanced budget for the financial year 2024/25, the budget included proposals to reduce the revenue budget of the Council’s library service by £300,000 over two years. The library service accordingly developed a draft library strategy which included a set of proposals to close a number of libraries in order to deliver that saving.

The evidence of need to apply for a capitalisation direction from the Government includes a thorough scrutiny of budget making decisions. The Council must demonstrate to the Government it is doing everything in its control to reduce costs and to deliver savings. Without making these difficult decisions, a request for a capitalisation direction may not be successful which could put further services at risk.

The draft strategy comprised:

·            Proposals to reduce the revenue budget of the service by means to closing up to four of the five “branch” libraries (Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood, South Hornchurch); 

·            Proposals to reduce the service’s book stock budget by 61% (£161,000) in 2024/25 and £30,000 (from the 2023/24 base) in both 2025/26 and 2026/27; 

·            A detailed needs and usage assessment which was used to develop the proposals; 

·            A refreshed vision and strategic priorities to underpin the statutory service in coming years; 

·            Proposals to develop an investment business case seeking capital funding to improve the quality of the library estate; 

·            Proposals seeking views on whether a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.