Hampshire County Council

Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item: 7

22 May 2003

Best Value Review of the Library and Information Service

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Richard Ward Tel: 01962 826621

1. Introduction

1.1 A Best Value Review of the Library Service was undertaken between April 2000 - May 2001 which addressed the four key areas of challenge, comparison, competition and consultation. An Action Plan with four key outcomes was produced which addressed issues around access, efficiency, IT and resources.

1.2 The Audit Commission undertook a Best Value Inspection in July 2001 and assessed the Library Service as providing a good two-star service which was unlikely to improve. An Inspection Action Plan was drawn up specifically focussing on the recommendations in the Report.

1.3 The Audit Commission undertook a "light-touch" re-inspection of the Library and Information Service in January 2003 and in their Report (March 2003) assessed it as "a good two-star service that has promising prospects for improvement".

2. Best Value Re-inspection

2.1 The re-inspection was undertaken by two inspectors who examined the evidence for improvement, undertook off-site visits, interviewed staff and set up two focus groups with the public.

2.2 The Inspection Report highlighted a number of strengths in the Service which merited the two-star rating:

· encouraging new customers to the service by introducing a wider range of stock

· improvements in access to libraries

· progress in meeting national standards

· challenging new aims for the Service

The Report also mentioned the following strengths which supported the judgement that the Service has promising prospects for improvements:

· most of the recommendations from the previous inspection were being addressed

· a revised Best Value Action Plan had been produced which will improve the service to customers

· there are plans to make all libraries accessible to disabled people and to meet all nationals library standards by March 2005

· there are further plans for a range of improvements including better IT, improved marketing, more staff involvement and better targeting of services

Only two areas of "weakness" were mentioned:

· new aims and targets have not yet been consulted on with stakeholders or promoted to the public

· only limited progress has been made with ICT facilities and improving opening hours

Considerable progress is being made on both of these. The Peoples Network of 300 computers in libraries is completed, opening hours have already been improved in some libraries and a more extensive programme of improvements is being implemented. The new aims are being revised in the light of the reorganisation currently under way and new targets in relation to book provision have been promoted to the public.

2.3 The Inspection Report included a number of recommendations which would "offer practical pointers for improvement".

In order to secure the future direction of the Service:

· consult with all stakeholders on the vision and aims for the service as soon as possible

· agree objectives and targets to reach the aims within given timescales

· prioritise and formally promote the aims among staff and customers

In order to improve the effectiveness of the service to the public:

· closely monitor the effects of the reallocation of the book fund to ensure it is meeting the aims of the service and the public library standards, and attracting new and lapsed users to the service

· manage the expectations of staff during the period of reorganisation and ensure their continued involvement in the process

· continue to improve opening hours

2.4 The recommendations of the Inspection Report are now being implemented and are being incorporated into the reorganisation of the Service which is nearing completion. They will be carried forward and monitored in the context of the service planning and performance monitoring process now underway in the Recreation and Heritage Department.

2.5 The formal progress report on the review required for inclusion in this year's Best Value Performance Plan is attached as an Appendix to this report. This concludes that the Library and Information Service Best Value Improvement Plan has been fully implemented and is effectively complete. As a consequence no further specific reports on the review will be made to this Committee.

3. Recommendation

1. That the Committee notes the successful completion of this Best Value review.

2. That the Committee approve the progress report on the Best Value review of the Library and Information Service contained in the Appendix for inclusion in the 2003/04 Best Value Performance Plan.

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.

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