Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item 7a

18 May 2006

Library and Information Service Scrutiny Inquiry

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Stuart Dorward Ext 6110 e-mail: [email protected]

1. Background

1.1. At the meeting on 17 November 2005 the Committee considered a report on the proposed terms of reference and membership of the Scrutiny Panel for the Library and Information Service. A copy of the report is attached at Appendix A for ease of reference.

1.2. After considerable discussion the Committee agreed the following resolution:

    That the Library and Information Service Scrutiny Inquiry be conducted by the Committee as a whole and that the Terms of Reference be:

      i to examine the existing use of resources and value for money in the Library and Information Service, paying particular attention to overheads and the cost of books and other materials;

      ii to undertake a preliminary evaluation of the benefits of the Discovery Centre programme and its impact on existing library users;

      iii to consider and make recommendations to the Policy Review Committee and Executive Member on ways of improving the service;

      iv to identify the resource implications of any such recommendations;

      v to take into account the views expressed by members of the public.

1.3 In November, the Committee accepted that the Inquiry would not get under way until the Arts review had been concluded. The changes in the scrutiny process that have emerged since the Committee agreed the arrangements for the Inquiry make it necessary to reconsider the approach.

Recommendation

That the Committee considers whether it wishes to recommend that the scrutiny programme should include an Inquiry into the Library and Information Service on the basis of the Terms of Reference set out in this report.

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:

Published works.

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

TITLE FILE

Report to November 2005 PRC entitled Mottisfont Court

"Scrutiny Panel for the Library and Information Service"