Archived decisions

Decision Maker:

Executive Member for Policy and Resources

Date of Decision:

23 July 2009

Decision Title:

Refurbishment of Basingstoke Library - Creating a Discovery Centre

Decision Reference:

829

Report From:

Joint report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services and Director of Culture Communities and Rural Affairs

Contact name:

Karen Murray/Yinnon Ezra

Tel:

(01962) 847876

(01962) 845402

Email:

[email protected]

[email protected]

2.1

On 13 January 2009 the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel considered a feasibility study for the refurbishment and improvement of Basingstoke Library. The overall cost of the project was £502,000 and the contribution required towards the redecoration works from Policy and Resources was £250,000, with the balance coming from the Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs Department and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

2.2

This was approved by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources on 29 January 2009.

2.3

Since then, joint working initiatives between the Library, Adult Services and the County Council's Information Centre Service have developed and there is now a real opportunity to establish a modern, welcoming `front of house' for County Council services in Basingstoke town centre.

3.1

The total value of the expanded project is £997,000. So far £270,000 additional funding has been secured on top of the £502,000 reported to the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel, making a total of £772,000. A further Policy and Resources contribution of £225,000 can be accommodated from an unallocated sum within the capital programme.

4.1

Basingstoke library is Hampshire's second busiest library (after Winchester Discovery Centre) and is visited by over 360,000 people a year who borrow over 324,000 books, DVD's etc each year. It is set on the first floor of Festival Place shopping centre (which attracts over 18m visits each year) with a small entrance on the ground floor. The Information Centre has a separate entrance next to the ground floor entrance of the Library and operates independently.

4.2

The County Council's developing Customer Services Strategy proposes the concept of `HantsDirect Local' for integrated face to face contact. In Basingstoke the integration will lead to the delivery of a range of services from one point within the building. This will free up the ground floor space to provide a modern welcoming entrance to the Library which will be more in keeping with all of the other shop fronts in the Festival Place shopping centre.

4.3

This project comes at a time when the new Library Vision and Strategy is being implemented and the Personalisation Agenda and the Universal Offer is being piloted in the Basingstoke area. Integrated services and greater joint working with partner agencies with the real sharing of "cash" is the only way to respond to increased demand for services, the economic downturn and the public demand for "seamless customer centred" service delivery.

4.4

A key dimension of the Universal Offer is that existing County Council resources, such as Libraries, are utilised to improve the availability of information and advice in communities, and that once users have more choice available to them, they are able to take advantage of the wide range of services provided by the County Council. Basingstoke Library is in an ideal location to pilot this approach.

4.5

The project will also include a new `Community Space' funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council which will support a range of community and learning activities in the town centre. A programme is being developed in partnership with Children's Services and B&DBC and Local Children's forums. Opportunities for Connexions and the Children's Centre to use space within the Library for outreach are also being explored alongside opportunities for other County, Borough, and third sector agencies to use space on a programmed basis.

4.6

The proposal therefore, is to bring all these initiatives together to develop a pilot for the delivery of "real life" integrated services. Progress will be monitored on a regular basis (including regular consultation with users and non-users) against an agreed set of outcomes and critical success factors so that experience gained can be built into other related projects as they are rolled out.

4.7

The additional elements which it is proposed to add to the scheme include:

· A personal changing suite, designed to meet the needs of profoundly disabled people (adults and children) and their carers, enabling them to leave their homes for a longer period and therefore opening up access to services.

· A Fire Evacuation Lift, including associated lobbies and improvements to fire escapes and the general fire strategy. This is necessary to deal with the expected increase in users following the work at the Library.

· Inclusion of the ground floor within the scope of the project. This comprises an additional 180 sq.m. and inevitably increases the cost of the project.

· Integration of the Information Centre service delivery within the Library.

· The conversion of the ground floor into a community space, including meeting rooms which could be used for a variety of purposes and activities, both by the County Council including Workstyle opportunities, and partner agencies including volunteers.

· Removal of the glass screen separating the ground floor space from the Festival Place Mall, thus creating a more up to date and welcoming venue which would be used to promote a wide range of County Council services and to direct customers to the facilities upstairs.

· The inclusion of a Business Zone, comprising a meeting space, including book and on-line resources to support small and new businesses with wi-fi facilities and video conferencing.

· Improving the air quality in the Library, a source of complaint from both customers and staff, to provide a more comfortable environment.

4.8

As well as being a pathfinder for the emerging Customer Access Strategy, the additional investment will create a significant opportunity to improve the wellbeing of priority groups in Basingstoke. For example:

a) It will provide a more welcoming route in for older people not currently in receipt of any care service to access information and advice on activities that will help maintain their psychological and physical wellbeing;

b) It will provide day opportunities for people with learning disabilities that are part of real life rather than "service land", and fits in with the emerging Adult Services LD day care strategy;

c) It will provide an opportunity to provide more preventative services, for example reducing social isolation, and support to carers through the use of the community space.

4.9

It is anticipated that the additional work will:

· Increase the number of customers to the Library by 5% after 2 years.

· Increase the use of the Library by those from vulnerable groups and traditional non Library users to more closely reflect the demographic of the Library's catchment area. Currently, Library customers represent 18% of the local population and the aim is to reach 25% after 2 years.

· Increase use of the Library by local businesses.

· Increase the number of enquiries about County Council services by 5% over 2 years.

Hampshire safer and more secure for all:

Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate):

Maximising well-being:

yes

Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate):

Enhancing our quality of place:

yes

Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate):

OR

This proposal does not link to the Corporate Strategy but, nevertheless, requires a decision because:

Links to previous Member decisions:

Title

Reference

Date

Refurbishment of Basingstoke Library

485

29 January 2009

Direct links to specific legislation or Government Directives

Title

Date

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. (NB: the list excludes published works and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.)

Document

Location

None

Executive Member & Portfolio

Reason for Consultation

Date Consulted

Response

Executive Member for Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs

Portfolio Holder for libraries

6 July 2009

Fully supports the proposals

Organisation

Reason for Consultation

Date Consulted

Response

North West Basingstoke - Cllr Stephen Reid

Local Member

7 July 2009

Councillor Reid raised a number of queries. The following summarises the main points:

· Amount of additional spending and the possibility that it may bring back into play the Discovery Centre

· Use of empty shops in the town centre may offer unexpected opportunities for a Discovery Centre in a different location. The old Woolworths store, perhaps, releasing the existing site  

· The ground floor could be a good space for advertising activities taking place upstairs thereby helping to publicise the services on offer.  Even if it was just a rolling presentation on a large screen, it could add vibrancy.

South West Basingstoke - Cllr Rita Burgess

Local Member

7 July 2009

Basingstoke needs and deserves a Discovery Centre and it would seem from the extra funding that it may be possible to realise this eventuality. "I urge that this avenue is explored"

North Basingstoke - Cllr Jane Frankum

Local Member

7 July 2009

Central Basingstoke - Cllr Ronald Hussey

Local Member

7 July 2009

South East Basingstoke - Cllr Brian Gurden

Local Member

7 July 2009

Candovers Basingstoke - Cllr Anna Mc Nair Scott

Local Member

7 July 2009

Councillor McNair Scott raised a number of queries. The following summarises the main points:

· Concern that this is a substitute for the Discovery Centre and would like to know the long term plans

· Liaison with Basingstoke officers and Councillors

· Whether the CAB space requirements have been resolved

Loddon Basingstoke - Elaine Still

Local Member

7 July 2009

Calleva and Kingsclere Basingstoke - Keith Chapman

Local Member

7 July 2009

Supports the report and very encouraged in the way the proposals integrate services and improve the access

Tadley and Baughurst - Marilyn Tucker

Local Member

7 July 2009

Whitchurch and Clere - Tom Thacker

Local Member

7 July 2009