Bury Knowle Library plans: work in progress

Here is a snapshot of work in progress

The County Council issued a press release at the end of November on its proposals to discontinue funding for 20 of its 43 public libraries, including Bury Knowle Library. This is due to happen at some point during the 2011/12 financial year

Important dates 

15/2/11

County Council budget is set (proposals include library savings)

28/2/11

Closing date for expressions of interest from the community in taking over the running of the library

03/11-05/11

Consultation period on the proposals

30/06/11

Closing date for communities wishing to bid for transition funds from the County pot of £600K (can be for running libraries and/or youth activities with discontinued funding)

08/2012

End date for Phase 1 of the Future Libraries Programme

Timescales appear to have been driven by the County’s involvement in a successful bid with Kent County Council to be flagship authorities in the Future Libraries Programme, and the project’s remit is the following.

Delivering Library Services for the Future (Oxfordshire and Kent)  

Two large counties are using the opportunity this Programme provides to develop a new long term model for library services provided in rural counties. The model will need to substantially and permanently reduce the cost of provision, while retaining those features which are valuable to customers (good stock, access to information, community spaces and knowledgeable staff). The new model will need to deliver library services fit for purpose in the 21st century, including extensive online services such as e books, e loans and social networking, as well as provision that draws on Big Society principles of locally driven and community based activity.

Issues 

The County Council is currently developing guidance for community groups who may be interested in running library services but this has still not been released. Information that we need as a priority includes:

  • Continuing use of the Library Management System (even if offline). This means we could continue collecting fines
  • Continuing access to the borrower data (which they may say breaches data protection)
  • Use of RFID for security but more importantly rotation of stock and interlending between BKL and other libraries – would they be prepared to put it in? If they won’t pay for it, then can we? As this would certainly bring enormous benefits
  • Would they consider implementing RFID so the library can operate a self-issue system to drive down staff costs (currently £128K p.a.)
  • Costs would include system upgrades and possibly buy-in to professional services from County e.g. joint procurement
  • Could we buy in ICT support from County?
  • Would we be able to hang onto the equipment and stock and furniture already installed?
  • Would they give training to volunteers? (Someone would have to pay for all our volunteers to be CRB checked).

Action taken so far 

Local councillors and HA have agreed that this will be a cross-Party/”non-Political” campaign

We have done some desk research and found information on other authorities who have taken similar action, most notably Somerset.

Richard Stevens and Emma Chamberlain have written to Joanna Simons Chief Executive, Oxon County Council with a 6 page letter of objection / concerns that OCC is not fulfilling its duties under the 1964 Act and in light of the findings of the Public Inquiry in the Wirral 

Save Headington Library campaign group has been set up and will meet for the first time this evening, members include: Sarah Eddie, Alex Babkevich, Lynda Hayward and others

There are a number of sites, including

http://www.headingtonlibrary.org.uk/

http://saveheadingtonlibrary.blogspot.com

and a Facebook site

http://www.facebook.com/SaveHeadingtonLibrary

A meeting has been arranged for 2.30 on Wednesday 2 February with Cabinet Member for Libraries Cllr Mrs Judith Heathcoat and senior officers, hopefully including Caroline Taylor, the County Librarian. This will be the first of a number of meetings if the community decides to declare a formal interest in taking over the running of the library (before the consultation has taken place!!).  Attendees will be:

Cllr Roy Darke as Chair of the NE Area Committee

Cllr Ruth Wilkinson as Vice-Chair, NE Area Committee

Fiona Mackenzie (accountant, has prepared a cost benefit analysis)

Tanya Field representing Headington Action

Tony Joyce representing the Co-ordinating Committee of Headington RAs

Sarah Eddie representing Save Headington Library campaign group

We are hoping to persuade the Cabinet Member to reconsider her decision to discontinue funding for Bury Knowle Library, but need to keep all options open, including outsourcing the running of the library. There have been a number of suggestions from residents for income generating and/or community activities at Bury Knowle House. We would welcome more!

Area Committee latest on Headington Library closure

Many of our residents were at Area Committee last night to voice their support for keeping Headington Library open. County Officer Simon Kearey was there to explain the process. Expressions of interest from communities to retain libraries earmarked for closure must be in by the end of February 2011, and can be registered on futurelibraries@oxfordshire.com. The “consultation” on whether libraries will have their funding discontinued will happen from March – May 2011. Bids to continue a local library service in a different way will be appraised at the end of June but we don’t know who is doing the appraising and what criteria they will use. There will be guidance for community groups but it’s not ready yet. There is a £600K pot of money which groups can bid into to pay for setting up the alternative management arrangements for both libraries and youth activities.

It is hard to see how the Cabinet member can reassure our residents that these proposals are not yet set in stone, as there will be a Cabinet meeting on 25 January to agree the  budget and the budget sign-off will happen on 15 February by the Full County Council, over which the Conservatives have full control. The cuts to the Library budget are already included in the  Tory budget proposals.

This means that by the time the “consultation period” takes place, the funding from libraries will have been cut so dramatically that it will be almost impossible to argue a case for funding to be continued for the libraries on the ‘hit list’.

People at the meeting showed their frustration about (a) lack of consultation  (b) lack of information and (c) the impracticality of timescales  given by the County. It was resolved that the Chair and Vice Chair of NEAC (Cllr Darke and Ruth) will arrange for a group to meet the Cabinet Member for Libraries, Cllr Mrs Judith Heathcoat and other senior officers to find out more information and discuss the options for a fallback plan if our efforts to save the Library in its current form do not succeed. We are asking for representatives from community groups including Headington Action and  Save Headington Library to go with us to ensure that the views of local residents are discussed fully.

In addition to this the four county councillors from NE Area are asking for ten days consultancy time to be spent on community development in the area – including public library provision

Your chance to ask about library closures!

Simon Kearey from Oxfordshire County Council will be attending Tuesday’s Area Committee meeting to explain the proposals concerning proposed closures of libraries and to answer questions.

This is your chance to tell a County Officer what you think of the proposals to discontinue funding for Bury Knowle Library

North East Area Committee
Date: Tuesday 18 January 2011
Time: 6.00 pm
Place: Sandhills Primary School, Terrett Avenue

It is item 4 on the agenda

This may be one of the last area committees held as the Labour group wants to abolish them. But we feel it is the best local forum available for residents to air their comments, raise important local issues, and speak about local planning applications at a local venue.

The abolition of area committees would also mean that your local councillors will no longer be deciding planning applications in your ward. The proposal is to have 2 centralised committees to do this at the Town Hall, and will mean that councillors without knowledge of your local area will be making decisions on Headington planning applications.

If you feel strongly about this, please write to the local press and sign the petition to

SAVE LOCAL DEMOCRACY!

New car parking tariffs

tariffs.jpg

 As previously reported, new parking tariffs will come into force shortly in the Headington (Old High Street) and St Leonard’s Road car parks. The new tariff is likely to be implemented in 5-6 weeks time.

We are grateful to the residents and businesses who have worked with us to identify and propose a different time slot in the parking charge tariff to Scrutiny Committee and to City Executive Board. There will be a new time slot of 0-2 hours. The charge for this will be £1.20 and it will be reviewed (to make sure it works) in 6 months time. It will be good for businesses because it encourages some shoppers to stay for longer in Headington on their shopping trips to visit more shops and restaurants. It will be good for shoppers because  they won’t now have to worry about rushing back to the car park to feed the meter when they’re in the middle of buying something.

The original charge for the 1-2 hour time slot had been £1.50 so we are pleased that we have negotiated this down on behalf of residents and businesses. There will also be a limited business permit scheme similar to the one in operation at Westgate and more work will be done on this very shortly.

We know that many residents would like to retain a lower rate for very short term parking, and another option we put forward was for two slots of 0-30 minutes, and 31 minutes-2 hours. The Scrutiny Committee felt there was not enough data on how long people park for this to be a viable option at this stage, so we will fight for more accurate data to be recorded

We are also very concerned about Sundays being included in the weekday tariff. Normal rates will apply on Sundays and the Board member stated to Ruth yesterday that any concession to keep Sundays fixed tariff cannot be afforded in the current financial climate. This means that a family parking for 4 hours stay on a Sunday to use the Park’s facilities would be faced with a £12.50 charge, and we think this is unacceptable. We will continue to fight this!

We are aware that this Sunday tariff issue may cause problems for Old High Street residents in particular; they sometimes park their cars in Headington car park and let their visitors use the spaces in front of their houses, because of the lack of resident parking in their area. We are seeking alternative ways of achieving this, possibly by making a business case for allowing OHS residents to park there and display residents’ parking permits as is already the case in another car park. But we will need better data to justify this. Watch this space!

Important meeting about car park charge increase

Ruth is attending a Scrutiny meeting on Monday 10 January to present a paper to councillors on car park tariffs at Headington car parks

Those of you who braved the snow and came to the last NE Area Committee meeting will know that many residents’ groups and businesses have huge concerns about the proposed increases which even the officer calls “significant”

The paper outlines some alternative ways to raise car parks income so that rises don’t have to be so severe. Here are just some of our concerns:

  • Families and friends of Old High Street residents unable to find the very few visitor spaces available in Old Headington  will have to pay £12.50 for a stay of four hours in Headington Car Park on Sundays
  • Resistance to the increase in charges (for 2-3 hours, the charge is set to double from £1.50 to £3.00)  will mean less trade for our businesses as shoppers will park for as short a time as possible because of the expense

We have worked with members and officers of local residents groups and businesses to come up with an alternative plan which will generate as much income but encourage shoppers to stay for up to two hours. We shall see how much support the Labour councillors will give to these ideas and will let you know the result. You can find the relevant papers here.

In the recent past, these tariff charges have been decided by local councillors at Area Committees but a decision has been made by the City Executive Board that they will be made centrally now and in the future. We’ll know tomorrow whether that change is for better or worse!

Fighting for Bury Knowle Library

 bkl.JPG

The County has proposed to discontinue funding for 20 of its 43 libraries, but has not indicated clearly the criteria determining which libraries to cut. One reason that has been given is because there is a good bus route to Westgate Library

Full sets of figures for the County Library Service in terms of income, expenditure and usage county-wide are being obtained. We have details of income and expenditure for Bury Knowle Library.

Bury Knowle House is a grade II listed building, and the space within it is leased to the County Council. The lease was signed last year, and we have now obtained a copy of it.  It appears that the County Council has the ability to terminate the agreement upon the giving of six months notice.  The annual rent passing is in the sum of £16,300 per annum. Effectively the County has paid rent in advance up to March 2016 from which date annual rental payments would again commence, so the rent would be subject to review on 25th March 2016.

Our current information is that the City pays for maintenance/repair to the outside of the building and for the foyer and that  the County pays for repairs to the interior of the library space – repairs to listed buildings can be expensive.  We are checking this out.

Additional to the library space, the County rents a large staff workroom and a staff rest room.

The Library stock has been RFID security tagged ready for the introduction of a self-issue machine. This would mean that potentially the Library could be run using fewer staff if the linked RFID computer software is implemented. We have requested further details on this from County.

IT facilities are oversubscribed, and the children’s workstations are in high demand in the summer holidays. It is odd that this library has been earmarked for discontinuation of funding as its customer base and transaction statistics are very healthy. Local residents use it as central point for information on activities and events within the area (it is currently displaying the new play area equipment to be installed in Bury Knowle Park).

The income from overdue books and charges more or less pays for many expenditure items such as utilities, stationery, but not the £31K on books and £128K on staffing recorded in the most recent set of annual figures that we have available to us.   

We are awaiting a response from County for information on the following:

  • What criteria were used to select the libraries earmarked for discontinued funding?
  • Will county stock currently in the Library be made available to users if it is taken over by a social enterprise or voluntary group?
  • Will any new library management group be able to use centralised County systems such as IT support, library circulation and fines management system and RFID, user database etc?
  • What will become of the s106 developer money earmarked for the library service from Ruskin projects?
  • Postcode information on BK library users to show how far they come to use the library and from where

The nature of any prospective ‘takeover’ is up for debate: could the City take over the running of the County libraries on a not-for-profit basis, for example? One hitch is that there is no wheelchair access to the building.

Ruth has approached the Bodleian, Oxford Brookes University and Ruskin College for possible help. The County Librarian is moving jobs in the spring of 2011.

There will be a public meeting on 11/1/11 at 20.00 at St Andrews School and there is a public petition which you can sign here

Please contact Ruth or David if you want to get involved with any working group, we already have seven volunteers from our ward, two of who have worked at Bury Knowle Library, and a local accountant keen to look at the figures. We are working alongside the County Councillors and Headington Action on this.  North East Area Committee has some funding available – should this be used to conduct a survey of local library-related needs?

Clearly we would like to make a case for the County to reconsider its decision to discontinue funding for Bury Knowle Library. But we also need to have a Plan B, and before we can decide what that Plan B can look like, we need to have a greater understanding of what local people want from the Library and how they would like the space at Bury Knowle House to be used most effectively. We’d appreciate your comments on this!

Ideas about more creative use of the use of space at BKH given to us by local residents and staff so far include:

  • Change the opening hours to open later in the day with full IT access. The large room could be kitted out with internet access – maybe with a Costa Coffee cart? (and relocate the workroom)
  • The member of staff supervising later opening could also service room bookings for community groups in what is currently the library rest room and/or rooms on the top floor
  • Brookes could be approached to provide IT equipment/help with classes as outreach
  • A gourmet funding not-for-profit company based in Kidlington thinks it can generate income by asking people doing their grocery shopping online to consider making a small charitable donation (this could pay for new books along with donated material)
  • Use of Bury Knowle House as a venue for wedding ceremonies
  • Library staff to act as an information point/book out sports hire for the Park
  • Close the Library on its two half days and use the space for other activities

Another option that has been mooted is to move the library to another location so that it is cheaper to run, and Barton has been mentioned in this context, although our latest information is that the library is well-used by Wood Farm School too. Access to another venue using public transport might prove more difficult though.

If you have any comments, feel free to click on the comment button and add them here!

Lib Dems delivering for Britain. Part 9. Your say

This is the concluding post in our series on the Lib Dem manifesto in action

Lib Dem manifesto p.94

“We will scrap the intrusive ContactPoint database which is intended to hold the details of every child in England.”

The ContactPoint database was switched off on 6 August 2010

Lib Dem manaifesto p.92

“We will implement the recommendations of the Calman Commission to give significant new powers and responsibilities to the Scottish Parliament.”

The Scotland Bill had its first reading on 30 November. It implements the recommendations of the Calman Commission, devolving landfill tax and stamp duty, and introducing a Scottish Income Tax and new borrowing powers.

Lib Dem manifesto p. 89

“We will introduce fixed-term parliaments to ensure that the Prime Minister of the day cannot change the date of an election to suit them.”

The Fixed Term Parliaments Bill is in the process of going through Parliament.

Lib Dem manifesto p.87

“We will give people a real say in who governs the country by introducing fair votes.”

The Parliamentary voting system and constituencies Bill is currently before Parliament. It provides for a referendum on the alternative vote, a new fairer electoral system, most likely to be held in May.

Lib Dem manifesto p.92

“We will scrap the Government Offices for the Regions and regional ministers.”

We have scrapped the Government Offices for the Regions and regional ministers, devolving some of their powers and resources to local government.

Lib Dem manifesto p.92

“Give the National Assembly primary legislative powers so that it becomes a true Welsh Parliament. We also support passing on a greater number of responsibilities to the National Assembly.”

A referendum on extending the law-making powers of the National Assembly of Wales is to be held on 3 March 2011

Lib Dems delivering for Britain. Part 8. Your community

Here is the latest in our series showing the Lib Dem manifesto in action

Lib Dem manifesto p.76 

“We will end the detention of children in immigration detention centres”

On 16 December, Nick Clegg announced the ending of child detention for immigration purposes.

Lib Dem manifesto p.83

“Through our policy on capital gains tax, ensure that those who use second homes as speculative investments will pay tax on enhanced capital value at the same rate as on earned income, not 18% as at present.”

In June’s emergency budget, we increased the rate of Capital Gains Tax to 28% for higher rate taxpayers while keeping it at 18% for basic rate taxpayers

Lib Dem manifesto p.77

 “In a fair society, everyone should have the right to a decent home, but this is not the reality of Britain today. There should be quality social and private rented housing available for those who need or choose it.”

We have announced plans for 150,000 new affordable homes over the next four years, the first net increase in the social housing stock by any government in 30 years.

Lib Dem manifesto p.77

We will make sure every new home is fully energy efficient by improving building regulations”

We have required a 25% improvement in energy efficiency standards for new buildings.

Lib Dem manifesto p.78 

 “We will scrap burdensome Home Information Packs, retaining the requirement for homes to have an energy performance certificate”

We have scrapped Home Information Packs, and retained the requirement for homes to have an energy performance certificate

 Lib Dem manifesto p.82

“We will stop ‘garden grabbing’ by defining gardens as Greenfield sites in planning law so that they cannot easily be built over”

We have ended ‘garden grabbing’ saving considerable amounts of green belt land from being built over

Lib Dem manifesto p.83

“We will promote schemes for affordable homes like equity mortgages and ‘Home on the Farm’ which encourages farmers to convert existing buildings into affordable housing”

We have promoted ‘Home on the Farm’ schemes that encourage farmers to convert existing buildings into affordable housing

Lib Dem manifesto p.74

“We will make prisoners work and contribute from their prison wages to a compensation fund for victims.”

The government’s sentencing green paper included proposals for ‘working prisons’ to get prisoners used to working regular hours, and to contribute toward financial reparations for victims.

Lib Dem manifesto p.75

“We will give people a direct say in how petty criminals and those who engage in antisocial behaviour are punished by setting up Neighbourhood Justice Panels”

The sentencing green paper also included proposals for increasing the opportunities for communities to become involved in local justice through Neighbourhood Justice Panels

Lib Dem manifesto p.75

“Champion restorative justice programmes which make offenders confront their behaviour and are more successful at reducing crime.”

The sentencing green paper also includes proposals to make more use of restorative justice as a more effective punishment

Lib Dem manifesto p.74

“Move offenders who are drug addicts or mentally ill into more appropriate secure accommodation”

As of June 2011 we will pilot drug recovery wings in priosons, reviewing this in June 2012 with a view to working with the Department of Health to roll it out more widely.

The sentencing green paper proposes to pilot and roll out liaison and diversion services nationally by 2014 for mentally ill offenders who present a high risk of harm where this is linked to a severe personality disorder

Lib Dem manifesto p. 73

“Require better recording of hate crime against disabled, homosexual and transgender people”

In December 2010 Lynne Heatherstone launched the government’s new equalities strategy, which includes a commitment to promote better recording of, and response to, hate crimes.

Lib Dem manifesto p.79

“Include promotion of safer cycling and pedestrian routes in all local transport plans”

In September Norman Baker announced plans for a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund to challenge local transport authorities outside London to develop packages of measures that support economic growth and reduce carbon in their communities, as well as delivering cleaner environments, improved safety and increased levels of physical activity.

Lib Dems delivering for Britain. Part 7. Your World

Part 7 of our series showing our manifesto in practice 

Lib Dem manifesto p.23

“If you choose micro-generation, you will be able to sell the energy back to the National Grid at a profit, with a more attractive feed-in tariff than under current government plans”

Feed-in tariffs were protected under the spending review. Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne has announced that the Renewable Heat Incentive, which pays for every kilowatt hour of heat produced, will go ahead in 2011

Lib Dem manifesto p.58

“Begin a ten year programme of home insulation, offering a home energy improvement package of up to £10,000 per home, paid for by the savings from lower energy bills, and make sure every new home is fully energy-efficient by improving building regulations.”

At the beginning of November, Chris Huhne announced the Green Deal. Through the Green Deal, people will be able to pay the up front costs of home insulation work through the lower bills that will result.

We’ve also recognised that those in fuel poverty need extra help. This is why, under the new Energy Company Obligation, we’ll be requiring energy companies to help poorer customers, by providing basic heating and insulation to the most vulnerable households. Until the Green Deal and ECO kick in, we’ve put in place the Warm Home Discount which will help around 2m households per year take up to an anticipated £130 off their bills.

Lib Dem manifesto p.58

“We will set out a clear renewable route map to 2050, covering grid access and investment in electricity networks.”

We are mapping out the path to renewable energy in 2050, and have enabled £110bn investment in low carbon electricity infrastructure over the next decade.

Lib Dem manifesto p.59

“Block any new coal-fired power stations – the most polluting form of power generation – unless they are accompanied by the highest level of carbon capture and storage facilities.”

Chris Huhne has stated the coalition would not allow any new coal power station to be built without being equipped with CCS technology.

Lib Dem manifesto p.62

“We will increase the UK’s aid budget to reach the UN target of 0.7% of GNI by 2013”

The overseas aid budget has been protected from cuts and will rise to £11.5bn over the next four years. The effect will be that the UK will reach the United Nations goal of giving 0.7% of national income by 2013.

Lib Dem manifesto p.63

“We will prioritise health and education programmes in the developing world which aim to promote gender equality and reduce maternal and infant mortality”

In September 2010, Nick Clegg announced that the government will refocus its aid efforts to put the lives of women in developing countries at its heart.

Lib Dem manifesto p.68

“We will hold a full judicial enquiry into allegations of British complicity in torture and state kidnapping as part of a process to restore Britain’s reputation for decency and fairness.”

The coalition government has announced a judicial enquiry into Britain’s role in torture and rendition since the al-Qaida attacks of September 2001. A three-person inquiry panel will be headed by Sir Peter Gibson, a former appeal court judge, who is currently commissioner for the intelligence services.