Question submitted by:  Rhea Brooke

To the Cabinet Member for Culture – Councillor Jordan

Question:

What equality analysis has been undertaken on each of the libraries proposed for closure and each of the proposed options for the future of library services and where a significant negative impact has been identified how will these be mitigated? When will this information be completed, published and available to the public?

The Consultation EIA states that an easy read format of the Plan for Libraries summary, large print and printable versions of the consultation document will be available on the website.  As of the 28^th January 2017 this was not available on the PCC website. When will the Cabinet Member rectify this omission and will he extend the consultation period in order that all members of the community have an equal timescale to respond to the consultation?

Has an accessibility audit been carried out on each of the library buildings?  Where is this considered within the weighting factors in Appendix C? When will this information be completed, published and available to the public?

Where other venues are being proposed for the Library Service e.g. Click and Collect what assessment has been made of their accessibility including opening times etc.?  Where venues such as Children's Centres are proposed what safeguarding assessment has been undertaken?

What specific considerations have been made to identify and mitigate against the impact on those with limited disposable income who are seeking employment for each of the libraries that are proposed to close?

Response:

Regarding Equalities Impact Assessment –

An Equality impact assessment (EIA) has been completed for the public consultation on Plan for Libraries proposal. Individual EIA’s will be carried out on all libraries when the final proposal is submitted to Scrutiny Committee after the consultation ends

Regarding Accessible Formats -

We apologise that there has been a delay in providing the accessible formats as described through the EIA. Although we have not yet received any requests for an alternative format, we will ensure that an Easy Read version of the Plan for Libraries summary is available by Friday 24 February in our libraries and on the website. We will also ensure that the large print version of the consultation documentation is available in libraries by Friday 17 Feb. The documentation can be made available in different languages and braille upon request. Printable versions of the consultation documentation are already available on the website and in all our libraries. Our library staff are fully trained to assist members of the public to complete the consultation online.

The survey software the Council uses complies with the minimum accessibility standards as set out by the government. The consultation portal will work with screen readers such as Browse Aloud - and the font size can be increased on the screen for the visually impaired. The company that provides the consultation portal does not currently provide a list of additional accessibility software that is compatible. However, if someone raises a specific accessibility software request with the Council, then it can be put forward for consideration to their Product Manager.

The consultation period will run until Wednesday19 April and will not be extended. It is considered that members of the public who require an accessible format will still have sufficient time to contribute their views to the consultation. Indeed we are putting in extra measures as above to encourage their engagement.

Regarding Accessibility and Alternative Premises -

Accessibility audits were undertaken on existing libraries when the Accessibility and Equality Act 2010 was introduced. All libraries constructed or redeveloped after 2010, comply with Part M of Building Regulations 2010 (amended in 2016). Accessibility Audits have been carried out by Disabled Go on all of the libraries apart from Central Library. These were carried out by their independent surveyors.

A full accessibility assessment of alternative premises will be made when the Plan for Libraries proposal is being finalised. Consideration will be taken on any premises accessibility. We welcome suggestions on alternative premises from the Public and Councillors, These will be assessed on their accessibility and suitability. Before agreeing outreach venues, advice will be sought from the PCC Early Years Team to ensure that the proposed service delivered from the Children’s Centre is appropriate  and fulfils safeguarding requirements

Regarding  access to Information Technology –

Our proposal will ensure a minimum of 12 public access PC’s at each location. (Central library has 42 PC’s) This will enable us to provide quality job clubs in each of the 7 proposed locations with trained library staff and partner organisations. The Library Conversation told us that 72% would like help with job seeking  and 71% with digital skills training, so we propose to develop a consistent and enhanced offer addressing these requests.

Question submitted by:  Nicky Williams

To the Cabinet Member for Culture – Councillor Jordan

Question:

In what week was the library visit survey carried out, what was the methodology and why were those dates chosen? 

Why has the Council chosen to use demography from the 2011 census rather than the 2015 population data used by the Office for National Statistics?  How will the impact of proposed neighbourhood population trends for the next 10-15 years be included e.g. rising birth rates, housing growth?

Where within the weighting factors (Appendix C) is consideration given to the location and relationship between the existing library and other neighbourhood and community facilities as well as the specific needs of different demographic groups other than by age?

Is the Cabinet Member for Culture able to confirm that closing Efford library will not result in significant monies having to be repaid to the DCLG and the EU who helped support building the scheme?

What is the financial impact on local residents of the cost of travelling by public transport to the remaining 10 proposed locality libraries from the neighbourhoods where there are proposed library closures, given that 2/3rds of visitors walk to their local library? 

The School Library Service has been ruled out of the scope of this consultation.  Which schools access the City Council Library Service and what is the cost to the Council of providing this service? 

Some schools will have based their annual (three year) budget plans on children being able to access their local library during the school day. What formal consultation has been undertaken with schools in the proximity of libraries proposed for closure? 

Response

Response: (for completion by City Council officers and Cabinet Members / Chairs)

Regarding the library visit survey -

The library visit survey was carried out on w/c 18^th May 2015 and w/c 16 Nov 2015. These surveys are carried out in the same months every year. These dates were chosen because they represent an average week i.e. not school holidays. The methodology used is that library staff and volunteers manually record every person that enters the library.  This is national standard practice which is reported to CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy)

Regarding demographic data -

We have chosen Census data as it is nationally recognised as comprehensive and robust. The Plymouth Plan provides information on future trends which will be taken into account as well as library specific information e.g. Conversation. Most of the libraries identified to remain in the Plan for Libraries proposal are located in or are close to the three growth areas identified in the Plymouth Plan. St Budeaux library is the exception

We consider that to not apply weighting was the fairest way to interpret the data across the ten criteria. The Equality Impact Assessment carried out on every library will address factors such as demographics, literacy levels, language needs etc.  It is expected that the development of the outreach service will address the potential partnerships with community facilities and needs of different demographic groups

Regarding Efford Library -

Efford neighbourhood did benefit from South West Regional Development Agency Funding for some regeneration initiatives. It is not possible at this stage to confirm whether any monies will need to be repaid.  Due diligence will be undertaken to ensure that any monies are repaid where required.

Regarding Financial Impact on Library Users - 

80% of our current users use the 7 libraries proposed for staying open. For the remaining 20% of current users and new users we feel that having a library within a 2 mile radius of an household is an acceptable offer. We would also encourage members of the public to use the on line service. Enhancing the digital offer is a key part of this Plan for Libraries proposal

Regarding the Schools Library Service -

Our proposals do not affect the school library service. The schools library service is a traded service and information regarding budgets is restricted as it is commercially sensitive.  We are in the process of engaging with all schools and encouraging their feedback on any concerns