Issue - meetings

(i)             to thank all individuals and groups for their welcome participation and input to the online consultations and focus group sessions;

(ii)            to note the results of the Future Library and Information Service consultation and instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to continue to collaborate with stakeholders in designing a strategic vision and model for the Library and Information Service, reporting back to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on the Future Libraries and Information Service vision and model at the meeting on 5September 2024;

(iii)          to note the extension, as an interim measure, to library opening hours from 1 April 2024 as detailed in paragraph 3.6; and

(iv)          to instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to undertake a consultation (including by means of newspaper advertisement) on the proposed Library and Information Services Management Rules at Appendix C and thereafter report back to a meeting of this Committee on the outcome of such consultation and to seek a decision on whether such Rules should be made, all in accordance with section 112 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

With reference to article 12 of the minute of the meeting of 6 July 2023, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment, which provided the results of the results of a public consultation on future library provision and outlined the next steps for advancing Aberdeen’s Future Library Model.  The report also sought permission to undertake a consultation on the proposed Library and Information Services Management Rules, which would then be reported back to a future meeting. 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)           thank all individuals and groups for their welcome participation and input to the online consultations and focus group sessions;

(b)           note the results of the Future Library and Information Service consultation and instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to continue to collaborate with stakeholders in designing a strategic vision and model for the Library and Information Service, reporting back to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on the Future Libraries and Information Service vision and model at the meeting on 5 September 2024;

(c)           note the extension, as an interim measure, to library opening hours from 1 April 2024 as detailed in paragraph 3.6; and

(d)           instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to undertake a consultation (including by means of newspaper advertisement) on the proposed Library and Information Services Management Rules at Appendix C and thereafter report back to a meeting of this Committee on the outcome of such consultation and to seek a decision on whether such Rules should be made, all in accordance with section 112 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

          that the recommendations contained in the report be approved.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Tissera, moved as an amendment:-

          that the Committee:-

(1)           thank all individuals and groups for their welcome participation and input to the online consultations and focus group sessions, noting that despite the valiant efforts from the Save Aberdeen Libraries group and the Community, the SNP administration voted to close libraries at Cornhill, Cults, Ferryhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside;

(2)                note the results of the Future Library and Information Service
consultation which noted that opening hours and closures were the main barriers to accessing Library services and agreed that closing libraries especially in regeneration areas will only lead to less people accessing libraries;

(3)           instruct the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community
Empowerment to continue to collaborate with stakeholders in designinga strategic vision and model for the Library and Information Service, toensure that the redesign considers the impact of the closures of Cornhill, Cults, Ferryhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside Libraries, and ensures adequate provision is provided in these communities, reporting back to the Communities,Housing and Public Protection Committee on the Future Libraries andInformation Service vision and model at the meeting on 5 September 2024;

(4)                note the Future Libraries Consultation Children and Young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7