Ellesmere Library to move to Meres Day Centre
Plans to create a new community hub in Ellesmere by relocating the town’s existing library and customer service point to Meres Day Centre has been approved.
The decision was made yesterday at a Joint Portfolio Holder Decision-Making Session between the Cabinet member for business and culture, and Cabinet member for resources, finance and support.
The proposals, which also include the transfer of the services, along with the existing Meres Day Centre service for older people and people with learning disabilities, from Shropshire Council to a new management organisation, were outlined in a report at the meeting. The new management organisation will be confirmed following an open procurement process.
Approval of the “Future management of Ellesmere Library Service and Customer Service Point” report follows months of extensive talks and consultations with local organisations and residents around the future and sustainability of Ellesmere Library, and has been ongoing since March 2015.
Out of the more than 300 residents and organisations who responded to the consultation survey, 40.13% supported proposal 1 to move the library and customer service point to the Meres Day Centre, whilst only 24.27% were in favour of proposal 2, for Shropshire Council to run the library with reduced opening hours. The remaining 35.6% of those who responded provided alternative proposals, though these did not provide the same opportunity as the Meres Day Centre to sustain the library within alternative management arrangements.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for business and culture, said:
“We know that libraries play a vital role in the well-being of our communities. This is why we have been working hard with local people, organisations and staff over the past year, to try and find the best solutions to meeting the needs of the local community so that their library can continue to flourish.
“With the proposals the library will be open for a minimum of 20.5 hours per week; however, it is hoped that it will be possible to increase these within the new management arrangements.”
David Turner, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for customer services, added:
“Yesterday’s approval provides a sustainable future for the library and customer service point in a new location in Ellesmere, and the creation of a community hub.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in the community conversations to help us find the best way to maintain the library in Ellesmere, within the budgets available.”
Ann Hartley, local Shropshire Councillor for Ellesmere Urban, said:
“I know that Ellesmere Library and customer service point is such an important asset to the people of Ellesmere. We have worked extremely hard with local residents to try and find the best way forward to ensure their library remains at the heart of our community. I am pleased that residents have come forward with their views and ideas, and that we can now continue to work together to ensure our library and other services continue to serve the needs of local residents.”
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, commented:
“The Meres Day Centre is a valued resource for older people and people with learning disabilities in Ellesmere and the surrounding area. The centre already has a community café which is open to the public.
“Having the library and customer service point at the Meres greatly enhances its potential to become a real and vibrant ‘community hub’ for Ellesmere.”
The Joint Portfolio Holder decision is subject to call in by scrutiny committee.
