New proposals approved for Nottingham’s library service will see one of four libraries due for closure remaining open with discussions taking place for local voluntary organisations to deliver services from the other three library buildings.
Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board approved recommendations at a meeting on 21 January which will ensure the authority will continue to provide a high quality and sustainable library service meeting statutory requirements up to 2030.
The Council carried out an extensive consultation last year on plans for the future of the city’s library services, including a proposed reduction in the number of libraries from 15 to 11 by closing Aspley, Basford, Bilborough and Radford-Lenton as part of £1.5 million of savings identified after reviews found overprovision compared to the statutory minimum and higher costs compared to similar authorities.
Feedback from the consultation indicated that people wanted to keep libraries open either run by the Council or the voluntary sector.
Under the revised proposals, Radford-Lenton library will become a centralised stock hub but continue to provide a scaled-down library service ensuring continued access for the local community.
For Aspley, Basford, Bilborough libraries, voluntary sector-led delivery is proposed instead of building closure, encouraging local partnerships to offer tailored services. The Council has received expressions of interest from three voluntary organisations for the asset transfer of the sites for community use which are currently being assessed.
Council Leader, Cllr Neghat Khan, said: “At Executive Board, councillors approved a proposal that keeps libraries open that had been previously set for closure.
“A previous proposal agreed last year was to close four libraries: Aspley, Basford, Bilborough and Radford-Lenton.
“Under the new proposal, the Council will keep those four libraries open, whilst still delivering on the £1.5m saving agreed in 2024.
“Radford-Lenton library will continue to operate largely as it does now, while the Council will be working towards securing agreement with voluntary sector organisations to take on the running of the remaining three buildings and continue to offer local provision and community access.
“Though the Council is reducing services, we are trying to keep all library buildings open and may even be expanding services through our community partnerships in the voluntary sector.
“The Council would continue to own the buildings, we would not be selling them, and we would be working to continue access to some library provision at Aspley, Basford and Bilborough.
“By getting an agreement to secure voluntary organisations to take on the buildings and offering service provision, we are hoping to keep these buildings open and maintain them as community assets.
“These voluntary organisations would have access to funding the Council doesn’t, which could be used to repair, improve and maintain these buildings, as well as the potential to increase and broaden services currently on offer.
“As a council we are committed to getting our house in order and become a renewed council that delivers for local people and leads Nottingham forward. The proposal now approved will deliver the £1.5m saving agreed by council last year, while putting the whole library service on a more sustainable and defendable footing up to 2030 and work toward keeping these libraries open.”
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