The Portfolio Holder for Business, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning (North) and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support and I.T. will consider a report on the future management of Ellesmere Library Service and Customer Service Point.

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached marked 1.

Contact: George Candler – 01743 255003

Note: 

Portfolio Holder Decision Making Sessions are not open to the public. However members of the public are welcome to submit a request to address or ask a question of the Member making the Portfolio Holder decision.  Any request should be submitted in writing to the Chief Executive at The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND by no later than 2 clear working days before the proposed Member Session.  This is to ensure that the individual Member has sufficient time to decide whether or not to hear such persons and if so the arrangements to be made.  If you would like further details please telephone 01743 257712 or email jane.palmer@shropshire.gov.uk

RESOLVED:

1.    That the management of Ellesmere library is transferred from Shropshire Council to a new organisation to be confirmed following an open procurement exercise.  This will be supported by a contract between Shropshire Council and the new managing organisation, details of which will be confirmed following negotiations.

2.    That the management of Ellesmere Customer Service Point is transferred from Shropshire Council to a new organisation to be confirmed following an open procurement exercise.  Similarly this will be supported by a contract between Shropshire Council and the new managing organisation, details of which will be confirmed following negotiations.

3.    That authority be delegated 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.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources & Support to take any further consequential decisions relating to the transfer of the customer service point.

Reason(s) for decision:

The opportunity to provide a sustainable future for the library and Customer Service Point in a new location in Ellesmere and the creation of a community hub.

The opportunity to utilise Transformation Challenge Award funding in the completion of building improvements and in the successful delivery of the wider Community Hub programme in Shropshire, should the timescale of the transfer meet TCA funding requirements