Coventry libraries to be relocated as council plans huge change

[dutchman]

It will affect four libraries in the city



Popular Coventry libraries could be relocated under new plans. The council wants to move the services out of buildings in Bell Green, Canley, Coundon and Holbrooks.

The book-borrowing outlets would be based alongside other council services at venues including a leisure centre, plans say. It is part of a bid by the council to save some £3 million in its revenue budgets per year.

But reports admit the changes would have negative as well as positive effects. Three of the libraries would likely move to smaller spaces and have fewer books available.

People wanting to use the libraries may have to travel further and staffing levels, computers and opening times at different libraries could be hit. The move would also mean some libraries share buildings with family and dementia services.

Any negative effects on people using these services would have to be "mitigated," the report states. But bringing services together could be helpful, it adds.

Some of the new buildings are said to be in better condition or more accessible. The council also plans to relocate family hubs in Wood End and Radford and offices at Dover Street.

In a page on its 'Let's Talk' website the authority says it has put forward the plans as joined-up services "work better" for residents. Support can be provided earlier and more efficiently, it claims.

"We are proposing to do this by making the most of our buildings and people – bringing services together in shared spaces whilst reducing the number of buildings we operate from," the website adds. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked what will happen to the buildings that are closed.

The council said it is at an "early stage" on the plans and is still "exploring potential options" for any buildings that would become empty. The authority also confirmed the move is part of a change to services agreed in the budget earlier this year, which overall is estimated will save £3-4 million per year.

More details on the plans can be found at: https://letstalk.coventry.gov.uk/one-coventry-services. People in the city have until Monday 4 November to give their views on the change in a council survey.

[dutchman]

Hundreds back calls to save "heart of the community" Coventry libraries



Pleas to save four Coventry libraries will be heard by officials next week. Hundreds of people are calling on the council not to move the book-borrowing services out of their current buildings.

One appeal backed by almost 200 people states libraries are the "heart of the community, safe spaces." Locals have also raised a range of "concerns" about the change and its effects.

Coventry council is considering the move as part of huge cost- saving plans signed off in its budget last year. Libraries in Holbrooks, Bell Green, Canley and Coundon would have to relocate to council buildings if it goes ahead.

The libraries all have free book lending services and computers with internet access. Some also have facilities like printing and photocopying, free talking books, and local history collections.

Many residents are opposed to the relocation plans put forward by the council last September. People who have organised petitions against the move will make their case to officials and a senior councillor next week, 11 February.

One is appeal calling for Holbrooks library to stay in a community centre, rather than move into a dementia hub, is backed by more than 400 people. Residents have "grave concerns" over the plan, it states.

Locals say the centre has space for children to study and play, a community room, hosts creative clubs and a community fridge. It has very good internet access, laptops people can use and digital skills sessions, they say.

They add: “The removal of this service from this building severely impacts children, families and those with disability preventing them from accessing library services in our area." Another appeal, backed by nearly 200 people, calls on the council to abandon plans to move the other three libraries in Canley, Coundon and Bell Green.

These services would join with hubs providing support to families, or in the case of Canley, move into the Xcel leisure centre along with a family outreach service. Petitioners say they believe the move goes against the council's legal duty to provide "comprehensive" library services for all - though a council report claims it would continue to comply with its legal responsibilities.

Residents also raise safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety concerns, including "severe safeguarding concerns" over relocating Canley library. They say the services are well used and must stay in "suitable buildings," with 750,000 people visiting 17 libraries in the city in one month, April, last year.

Locals also claim moving the libraries would have fewer visitors, and lose books, staff and computers and other services if they are moved. "Libraries are the heart of the community, safe spaces," the petition adds.

Council officers say a decision on the changes will be taken by the Labour-run council's cabinet and would be rolled out "as early as possible in 2025" though could end as late as 2027. A report for next week's meeting claims the move will help integrate services and cut property and staffing costs.

Three other proposals have also been put forward as part of the plan for the so-called 'One Coventry Community Hubs.' These involve moving two hubs providing support for families and offices for two adult social care teams.

A council consultation page reveals the changes are part of a move to a new delivery model which it is hoped will save £3 to 4 million per year. It was signed off as part of a huge budget cuts last year, with the council blaming underfunding and huge demand on services for the move.

The council also claims providing services from the same building will have benefits. The page states: "We want to provide positive and joined-up experiences for people accessing services, ensuring needs/ issues can be identified and support provided at the earliest possible stage and in the most effective and efficient way."

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Cllr Kindy Sandhu ( Earlsdon, Lab) will chair next week's meeting. The report did not say when a decision will be made on the plans.

[dutchman]

Coventry libraries still set to move despite plea by residents



Coventry libraries are likely to move to new buildings where they will have fewer resources. Plans to relocate libraries in Bell Green, Coundon and Holbrooks are set to be rubber-stamped by councillors later this month.

It comes despite a plea by hundreds of people not to move the services in petitions earlier this year. Most people surveyed by the council on the plans believed it would have a negative impact, according to new council papers.

Officials also found the changes will overall have a "potentially negative" overall impact. Children, the elderly and disabled people could be hit hardest by libraries moving further away, they wrote in an equality impact assessment.

Officers confirmed libraries will have less books and computers available after the move. But they claimed the impact of this will be reduced somewhat.

Most of the computers are not used at the moment, stock will rotate and the new buildings will be within three miles of the old ones, they said. Some people will not have as far to travel and the libraries will still run events and activities.

Below is exactly what the new locations, opening times of the libraries would be. We have also listed how much money the council estimates it will make from moving the individual services and the one-off costs involved.

Scrutiny councillors will have the chance to ask questions on the move at a meeting next week, 10 April. Cabinet members will then be asked to approve the plans at a meeting on 15 April.

If they give the bid backing, plans for the libraries will start their "first phase" in autumn this year, though the second phase is only confirmed for Bell Green library as June 2026. As well as the libraries, the council is set to move adult social care offices and its supporting families team to other council buildings.

But plans to move Canley library to a leisure centre have been abandoned after the backlash from locals and because it would cost too much. The Moat House family hub will also not move into the area's leisure and neighbourhood centre after locals said they liked its current base at a primary school and because there is not enough room in the new site, the report revealed.

The Pathways family hub has similarly been spared relocating to the Jubilee Crescent Community centre due to concerns raised in a consultation and the huge amount of investment it would take. The council's overall plan to move services is set to save £625,000 per year, according to papers.

This includes £244,000 from staffing efficiencies due to more integrated approaches and £190,000 from moving the three libraries. But there would also be £216,000 in estimated one-off costs, papers say.

Full details of the moves can be found in papers for next week's scrutiny meeting.

What will happen to each library if plans are approved

Bell Green Library

• Where it is now: Riley Square
  
• Where it would move: Park Edge Family Hub at Orchard Nursery, Roseberry Avenue
  
• When it would be open: Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm, closed on Wednesday, and Saturday 9am to 4pm
  
• How much the move would save/cost: £124,000 per year with £15,000 one-off costs to move.

Coundon Library

• Where it is now: Moseley Avenue
  
• Where it would move: Coundon family centre, also on Moseley Avenue
  
• When it would be open: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
  
• How much the move would save/cost: £46,000 per year with estimated one-off moving cost of £46,000. Potential cost of £114,000 if library building has to be demolished if no other future use is viable.

Holbrooks library [pictured]

• Where it is now: Holbrooks Community Centre
  
• Where it would move: Dementia Partnership Hub, Everdon Road
  
• When it would be open: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.45pm
  
• How much the move would save/cost: £20,000 per year with estimated one-off moving cost of £13,000