The Portfolio Holder for Business, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning [North] and the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Finance and Support considered a report on the future management of Albrighton Library and Customer Services Point.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the management of Albrighton Library is transferred from Shropshire Council to Albrighton Parish Council from an agreed start date. This agreement will run for 3 years and be supported by a contract between Shropshire Council and Albrighton Council.

2.    That the management of the Customer Service Point is transferred from Shropshire Council to Albrighton Parish Council from an agreed start date, similarly supported by a three year contract.

3.    To delegate authority to the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning (North) to take any further consequential decisions relating to the transfer of the library.

4.    To delegate authority to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Finance and Support to take any further consequential decisions relating to the transfer of the customer service point

5.    That, in principle, Albrighton Parish Council are granted a 125 year lease of the library building, with delegated authority to the Head of Commercial Services to complete the appropriate due diligence, agree final terms of the lease and to complete the transaction.

6.    Delegated authority is given to the Head of Commercial Services to consider the transfer of the assets set out at Recommendation 2 (5) above both in the context of the General Disposal Consent 2003 (“the General Consent”) which permits local authorities to transfer land at less than their market value under appropriate conditions and ensure the transfer is in compliance with state aid rules.

Reason(s) for decision:

The agreement of the above recommendations will result in –

·         The opportunity to maintain a modern, sustainable and accessible library service in Albrighton that reflects the council’s vision for a transformed library service as described in its successful Transformation Challenge Award (TCA) bid

·         The opportunity to utilise TCA funding in 2015/16 and contribute to the successful delivery of the wider Community Hub programme in Shropshire