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Cabinet RESOLVED the
following amended recommendations;
 
2.1 To consider the assessment
of local needs undertaken as part of the Libraries Review, detailed
in Appendix A to the 31st January
Cabinet - Phase 1-2 Report and outlined in paragraph 6.47
below
 
2.2 To consider the detailed
consultation activity undertaken on the proposed Library Service
model as outlined in Section 6 of this report and Appendix A titled
Library Service Review Phase 3 Report and Appendix B titled Library
Service Review Phase 3 Consultation Findings Report.
 
2.3 To consider the
consultation responses and findings on the proposed Library Service
model including the areas of concern raised by residents as
outlined in section 6 of this report and Appendix B titled Library
Service Review Phase 3 Consultation Findings Report and Appendix C
– Review of Closure Options Report.
 
2.4 To consider the equality
impact assessments of the proposed Library Service model including
the proposed library closures and the action to mitigate the impact
on groups with protected characteristics as outlined in Section 6
(6.47 to 6.67) and Section 8 (8.3.1 to 8.3.9) and Appendix D titled
Equality Impact Assessment set, and Appendix C titled Review of
Closure Options.
 
2.5 To consider the
recommendations arising from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee
meeting on 17th September 2024 relating to the proposed Library
Service model.
 
Please note
the Executive Response to the Scrutiny
recommendations was approved by Cabinet at Item 6. Scrutiny Stage
Two.
 
2.6 To consider whether the
proposed Library Service model as set out in Section 6 below would
meet the assessed local needs and the duty to provide a
comprehensive and efficient library service.
 
2.7 To agree to adopt the
proposed Library Service model set out in Section 6 below and
Chapter 5 of Appendix A Library Service Review Phase 3 Report and
summary of which are as follows:
 

a)   
To keep open and increase the opening hours to a
minimum of 5 days a week and Saturday opening, including a
programme of activity aligned to the Library Universal Offers at
the following nine libraries:
 
i)Central Library (Opening days to
be increased from 5 to 6 days per week);
ii) Ashburton Library (Opening
days to be increased from 4 to 5 days per week);
iii) New Addington (Opening
days to be increased from 3 to 5 days per week*);
iv) Selsdon Library (Staffed
opening days to increase to from 3 to 5 days per week with two days
self service access
retained*);
v) Coulsdon Library (Opening
days to be increased from 3 to 5 days per week);
vi) Purley Library (Opening
days to be increased from 2 to 5 days per week*); vii) Norbury
Library (Staffed opening days to increase to from 3 to 5 days per
week with two days self service access
retained);
viii) South Norwood Library
(Opening days to be increased from 2 to 5 days per week*)
and
ix) Thornton Heath Library
(Opening days to be increased from 3 to 5 days per week)
 
All libraries will be open five
days a week. *including some
self-service access. See 6.38 for proposed new
timetable.
 
b) To open all nine listed
libraries above with staff on Saturdays.
 
c) To extend self-service
access to Coulsdon and Thornton Heath Libraries.
 
d) To redevelop South Norwood
Library in conjunction with the neighbouring Samuel Coleridge
Taylor Youth Centre, delivering a library service alongside the
existing Youth Centre and a new Family Hub, introducing
self-service access and extending the opening hours to include
Saturdays.
 
e) To redesign the space at New
Addington Library to improve the utilisation and alignment with
existing Croydon Adult Learning & Training (CALAT) service and
to extend the opening hours to include Saturdays.
 
f) To invest in Purley Library
to create classroom/event space for utilisation by CALAT and other
VCFS partners and to extend the opening hours to include
Saturdays.
 
g) To develop an outreach
service to enable the library service to engage more effectively
with non-users, reach areas of need in the borough and mitigate the
impact of library closures across the following three strands of
provision, and as set out in paragraphs 6.41-6.45 and Chapter 5 of
Appendix A – Phase 3 Report: - Home Library Service – a
book delivery service for residents unable to visit a library
building, care homes and school settings impacted by library
closures. - Community events – library service information
and promotion at community events and festivals and in schools and
settings. - Library Links – a network of community book
collections in local venues available alongside weekly drop in sessions of library events and
activities.
 
h) To provide a digital offer
including the 24-hour online service offering an extensive
collection of stock and materials, learning and reference help and
a programme of digital skills support sessions delivered in the
libraries and community venues as outlined in paragraph 6.46 and
Chapter 5 of Appendix A – Phase 3 Report.
 
i) To improve the promotion and
marketing of the service to better inform and engage residents with
the library offer.
 
j) With effect from the
8th November 2024, to close the
following four libraries: Bradmore
Green, Broad Green, Sanderstead and Shirley.
 
k) To approve the following
general measures to mitigate the impact of the four libraries
closures:
 
• Extended opening hours
at the remaining nine libraries to a minimum of 5 days a week,
including introducing Saturday opening at all nine libraries and
evening opening at two libraries, increasing staffed opening hours
overall to 344 per week;
 
• Provision of a scheduled
weekly accessible bus shuttle service for residents with access
needs to visit their nearest library;
 
• Delivery of an outreach
service entailing community book collections and weekly events held
in community venues with a particular focus on areas of higher
deprivation raised during the consultation;
 
• Provision of book
collections for schools most impacted by the closure of
libraries;
 
• Schools local to a
library proposed to close will be accommodated for class visits at
the next nearest Croydon Libraries;
 
• Investment in the
library service digital offer including training and skills
sessions;
 
• Improved marketing and
communication of the service offer to better reach local
residents;
 
• Access for users who are
unable to visit a library to use the home library
service.
 
2.8 To agree that the proposed
model for the Library Service meets the assessed local needs
identified and the duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient
library service and as set out in paragraph 6.46 below.
 
2.9 To consider and approve the
implementation plan outlined from section 6.73 and Chapter 7 of
Appendix A Library Service Review Phase 3 Report for delivering the
new model and which comprise a transition plan and full community
mitigation measures for the four proposed libraries
closures.
 
2.10 To agree to commence a
process to consider community operation for sites no longer
required for delivery of the statutory library service