Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item 2

11 October 2001

Annual Library Plan September 2001 - Draft

Report of the County Librarian

Contact: Paul Turner Ext. 6109

1. Summary

1.1 The preparation of an Annual Library Plan is a statutory requirement with which all library authorities must comply. The plans must be lodged with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) by 30 September each year. The plan has been submitted to the DCMS in draft form since there is a requirement that the final version is ratified by the whole Council. The majority of library authorities submit draft plans because the timetable set by the DCMS does not coincide appropriately with Council meetings.

2. Scope and format of the Annual Library Plan 2001

2.1 The format of Annual Library Plans has been evolving since the first plans were required in September 1998. The first plan was a `full' plan but the plans submitted in 1999 and in 2000 were, in effect, supplementary plans. During 1999 the DCMS indicated that from September 2001 it would be moving towards requiring `full' plans each year.

2.2 A significant development in the planning process was the introduction of `Comprehensive, Efficient and Modern Public Libraries' consisting of 19 Standards which library authorities have a statutory responsibility to meet from 1 April 2004. Library authorities are required to demonstrate what actions they are taking to comply with the standards. The response to the standards forms a significant part of the Annual Library Plan.

2.3 The Plan is complicated and authorities are expected to follow guidelines issued by the DCMS which specify paragraph by paragraph what is required. The report falls into seven main sections, namely:-

· Introduction - a description of the local authority, and its organisation.

· Statement of Objectives - corporate and service objectives and plans

· Service delivery and resources - a detailed description of the service, its management, funding and organisation

· Performance Appraisal, Assessment against the Standards, etc. - detailed analysis and commentary

· Review of preceding plans - key achievements and achievement of the last financial year's Action Plan

· Rolling three-year Medium Term Strategy - analysis and commentary

· Rolling Action Plans and targets - analysis and commentary

· Appendices - as appropriate

3. Input of the Policy Review Committee (PRC) to the Annual Library Plan

3.1 The Executive Member and the Chairman of the PRC have agreed that it would be helpful if the PRC could comment on the draft Annual Library Plan 2001 prior to its approval by the County Council.

3.2 The draft Annual Library Plan is presented to this meeting for its consideration. The key issue for the County Council is its response to the new library standards and the requirement to comply with them by 1 April 2004.

Recommendation

That the draft Annual Library Plan be submitted to the Council for approval.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an

Important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the

Preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Draft Annual Library Plan 2001