Agenda and minutes

DECIDED:    That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Panel held on the 29th January 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

DECIDED:    That the report of the Chairman of the Police and Crime Panel dated 29^th January 2018 be noted.

At this point in the meeting Cllr Malyon requested an officer contact list for the wards in the Moorlands.

There were none.

·         Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

·         Other Interests

None were received.

(At least two clear days notice required, in writing, to the Proper Officer in accordance with Procedure Rule 15).

There were none.

Chris Plant - Community Capacity Manager, introduced a presentation to the Panel which covered the following subject areas:-

·         Reshaping Libraries

·         The need for libraries to continue to change

·         The challenge ahead

·         Proposals at a glance

·         Self-serve technology

·         Volunteer support

·         Community managed libraries

·         Consultation

·         Timescale

The Panel was advised that the County Council had agreed to keep all 43 libraries open. Blythe Bridge and Werrington Libraries had operated successfully led by the community and, it was a possibility that the library in Cheadle may also become a community led library. A member asked if the bus passes would be produced at Cheadle Library should this happen. This would be looked into after the meeting.

Members queried how vandalism would be managed in self service libraries and if in the long term the core hours of staff would be reduced. The officer explained how the door entry system would operate and the need for an element of CCTV. He understood the concerns about hours being reduced and advised the County Council was committed to deliver a quality library service.

Concerns were raised in relation to the loss of the travelling library and if there could be flexibility with the length of time spent in the centre and outskirts of villages. The Council would try to do this and agreed that it was important to clearly communicate the outcome of the consultation.

Discussion also took place around numbers of volunteers, costings, how they would be trained, supported and retained. 

The Chair thanked the officer for attending the meeting and providing the update. In response, Chris Plant offered to attend a future meeting of the Panel and provided copies of the consultation questionnaires to members for completion. 

DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.

Any additional items to be added to the Work Programme:

·         Chair’s Items

·         Members’ Items

The Panel considered its Work Programme and agreed the items listed.

A question was raised in relation to the impact on the Council due to the reduced amount of plastics being taken by China. The Portfolio Holder responded to the effect that the Council was not anticipating any impact at present and that this question had been answered in full at recent meeting of the Service Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Panel. Members also requested an update on waste reduction and how the Council promoted recycling.

DECIDED:-

1)    That the Panel’s Work Programme for 2017/18 be agreed;

2)    For the question and response in relation to plastics be circulated to members;

3)    That a waste reduction and recycling promotion update be provided.