Issue - items at meetings - Woodrow Library Project

To consider the co-location of Woodrow One Stop Shop in Woodrow Library as part of a capital project being proposed by Worcestershire County Council.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1) Redditch Borough Council supports in principal the co-location of Woodrow One Stop Shop in Woodrow library;

2) Officers investigate the feasibility of extending the use of swipe cards as a possible alternative to a payment kiosk and report back to this Committee on their findings before the expenditure requested in paragraph 5 is committed;

3) the rent currently charged for the library be reviewed, taking into account the extent of the investment proposed to improve a community facility and the implications of the future use of the vacated office space.

4) the outcome of the investigation outlined in paragraph 3 be brought back to Committee for consideration; and

RECOMMENDED that

5) the capital bid of £17,000 for the installation of a payment kiosk and the revenue bid of £2,500 per year for maintenance be approved.

Members considered proposals for the co-location of Woodrow One Stop Shop in Woodrow Library as part of a capital project being proposed by Worcestershire County Council (WCC).

Members were informed that following the creation of a Libraries and Learning Service by WCC in 2008 Woodrow had been identified as a priority area for service delivery, including adult learning. A substantial capital bid of £500,000 to refurbish the library would be submitted by WCC focussing on the benefits of co-location of the One Stop Shop.

Officers reported that in June 2008, as part of the decision to retain local One Stop Shops, an Executive Advisory Panel was set up to look at ways to make local offices more relevant, accessible and better utilised. The Panel was kept informed of progress of the co-location discussions and have supported the project.

Members were informed that the current face to face cashier service provided at the One Stop Shop could not be transferred into the library. However, Officers had investigated the cost and use of payment kiosks and space for housing a kiosk had been included in the refurbishment proposals.