Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment, which sought permission to consult with library stakeholders to ensure the design of future city library provision was sustainable and responsive to the evolving needs of the communities ahead of submitting a plan for Aberdeen’s Future Library and Information Service later in 2023/24.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)          instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to carry out engagement and consultation with stakeholders to understand current and future demand and how available resources can be maximised to ensure continued access to library and information services that are sustainable and responsive to local need;

(b)          instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to work with stakeholders to co-design a strategic vision and plan for the Library and Information Service in the context of the Community Planning Aberdeen Partnership;

(c)          approves the timeline for consultation, communication, analysis and design of Aberdeen’s Future Libraries and Information Service vision and plan, as set out in 3.8 of the report;

(d)          instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report back to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on the Future Libraries and Information Service vision and plan at the first Committee meeting of 2024.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained in the report, but extend the consultation period in recommendation (c) to October 2023.

Councillor Graham, seconded by Councillor Bonsell, moved as an amendment:-

          that the Committee

(1)          agrees to include the potential re-opening of libraries in Ferryhill, Cults, Cornhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside in the consultation process;

(2)          agrees that Aberdeen City Council’s Library and Information Service plays an essential service for citizens who live, work, study and play in Aberdeen apart from the areas of Ferryhill, Cults, Cornhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside;

(3)          agrees that the continued closure of 6 Aberdeen Libraries, disadvantages children living in Ferryhill, Cults, Cornhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside, and conflicts with the recommendations given in The Promise;

(4)          agrees that no matter what the findings of the consultation are it will do nothing to repair the damage to children’s future prospects caused by the closure of the six Libraries;

(5)          agrees that without the inclusion of the potential re-opening of libraries in Ferryhill, Cults, Cornhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside in the consultation process, the consultation proposals will contradict statements made in Aberdeen City Council’s Policy Statement;

(6)          agrees that without the inclusion of the potential re-opening of libraries in Ferryhill, Cults, Cornhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside in the consultation process, the consultation proposals will contradict statements made in the Aberdeen Local Outcome improvement Plan;

(7)          agrees that without the inclusion of the potential re-opening of libraries in Ferryhill, Cults, Cornhill, Kaimhill, Northfield and Woodside any further consultation is meaningless;

(8)          instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to carry out engagement and consultation with stakeholders to understand current and future demand and how available resources can be maximised to ensure continued access to library and information services that are sustainable and responsive to local need;

(9)          instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to work with stakeholders to co-design a strategic vision and plan for the Library and Information Service in the context of the Community Planning Aberdeen Partnership;

(10)       approves the timeline for consultation, communication, analysis and design of Aberdeen’s Future Libraries and Information Service vision and plan, as set out in 3.8 of the report; and

(11)       instructs the Chief Officer - Early Intervention and Community Empowerment to report back to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on the Future Libraries and Information Service vision and plan at the first Committee meeting of 2024.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Convener, the Vice Convener, and Councillors Bouse, Copland, Davidson, Greig and McLellan – for the amendment (4) – Councillors Bonsell, Brooks, Graham and Thomson – absent from the division (1) – Councillor Farquhar.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to request that officers look at areas with low feedback received during the consultation and target these areas in order to aim for better response rates in these areas; and

(ii)            to adopt the motion.