Purpose

Detailed business case following consultation
of the Buckinghamshire Libraries Service Transformation.

Content

As part of the Council’s
agreed budget, the library service had a Medium-Term Financial Plan
(MTFP) savings requirement of £555,000 to deliver by
Financial Year (FY) 2026/27. Work had taken place to consider
options and identify an innovative model that would increase
opening hours, maintain the library service offer and ensure a
sustainable and resilient service that would deliver the required
savings.
 
On 18 June 2024, Cabinet
considered a report setting out the options, including proposals
for a new model called ‘Library Flex’, and agreed that
a consultation exercise be undertaken to seek feedback on these
proposals before a final decision was made on how to deliver
library services in future.
 
This report provided detail of
the consultation findings and how the insight had informed the
changes that were now being recommended to Cabinet for
implementation which were as follows:-
 

·        
To implement the ‘Library Flex’ model
and an increase in opening hours across eight county libraries
(Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham, Hazlemere,
Marlow and Princes Risborough), including piloting significantly
extended opening hours at Amersham Library: specifically, to
increase opening hours and access to these sites through
self-service technology, and to focus staffed hours to the times of
greatest customer need. Across these libraries, there would be an
average 26% reduction in staffed hours, but an overall increase of
23% on the current opening hours, with potential to significantly
increase unstaffed opening hours in future in line with customer
demand. For the new Amersham Library in the Chilterns Lifestyle
Centre (CLC) there will be an enhanced opening hours pilot, with
early opening and late closing seven days a week, representing a
129% increase in opening hours.

·        
To modify the layout of High Wycombe Library and to
open on a Monday instead of a Sunday, to better meet customer needs
(there would be no overall change in the number of opening hours
and no reduction in the range of services available).

·        
To reduce the opening hours for Burnham Library from
38 to 27 per week, to ensure delivery of a sustainable service,
since there is insufficient volunteer capacity to maintain the
current hours.
 
Cabinet was also asked to agree
the release of the required capital investment of £500,000 to
implement the above recommendations, in order to secure the
£555,000 MTFP savings requirement. If agreed, then
procurement would take place for the works to alter buildings and
install the self-operated technology, and a formal staff
consultation on restructuring would commence during January 2025,
with the new model anticipated to launch in June 2025.
 
Cabinet Members agreed that
they should receive a report on progress six months after the
implementation of library flex.
 
RESOLVED
 
1.              
That the findings from the recent consultation
exercise to inform the future service design for the
Council’s libraries service be noted.
2.              
That the implementation of Library Flex and an
increase in opening hours across eight county libraries, including
piloting significantly extended opening hours at Amersham Library:
plus, changes to High Wycombe Library opening times and a reduction
in opening hours at Burnham Library, to deliver the budgeted MTFP
savings and associated benefits as detailed in this report be
AGREED.  
3.               
That the release of the existing associated
capital budget of £500,000 from the Council’s agreed
Capital Programme be APPROVED.