An indication as to what might be offered cuts-wise to the Full Council for elected-councillors to vote on this Wednesday has been published.
The papers for the Cabinet meeting for 1.March.11 have been released showing different thinking to what has been made publicly previously.
VB plans to go through in more detail shortly, but thought we’d give you the headlines of what options are now being considered.
There are now five options on the table (including one (C) put forward by Tim Coates) …
- Option A – The Council would continue to run eleven library sites across the Island, with their current opening hours.
- Option B – The Council would operate libraries in Cowes, Freshwater, Newport, Ryde, Sandown and Ventnor. In addition, the Council would continue to operate libraries in Bembridge, Brighstone, East Cowes, Niton and Shanklin, from 1st April 2011 until 30th June 2011, during which period it will seek to negotiate the devolution of library control to bodies in the local community. Should there be no devolved arrangement with a community body, or one in significant negotiation, by 30th June 2011, Isle of Wight Council operation of a library in that locality will cease.
- Option C – The Council would redefine the relationship between the Libraries’ Headquarters and operating libraries. Specifically, it would look to devolve budgets to libraries set out in Option B. The Council would also use the Newport and Ryde libraries to evaluate self-service equipment critically before making any move to purchase multiple units of such equipment.
- Option D – Where a town or parish council or a community group agrees to operate a community library from an existing library building, the Council may enter into a beneficial lease with the interested party to enable the transfer of the building for the purpose of a library and ancillary community use.
- Option E – Where a town or parish council or a community group agrees to operate a community library where there is no existing library site in the area, the Council will, subject to an evaluation of its feasibility, support the council/group through the provision of a core stock of books, materials and equipment and provide ongoing advice, training and support on the basis of the devolved model described in Option C.
Recommendations
The only option not being recommended is Option A – to leave the libraries as they are.
All other listed options have fallen under the Recommendation banner, so we’ll know no more until Full Council or the Cabinet meeting.
Have a look at the details for yourself … and tell us what you think.
The Future Of The Island’s Library Service (IWC Cabinet paper 1.Mar.11)
