Final proposals for Cheshire East’s libraries confirmed

An updated strategy for how Cheshire East's libraries could be run in the future is to be considered next week following feedback from a public consultation.

Cheshire East Council recently consulted on a draft version of its 2024-28 libraries strategy. It sets out how its libraries service will continue to meet the needs of local communities while remaining affordable in the context of the council's current financial position.

The formal consultation was undertaken for six weeks between 5 August and 15 September and received 3,534 survey responses, 39 lots of written feedback and 23 event attendees.

Feedback showed:

• More than 80 per cent supported the proposed objectives of the strategy.
• Almost 50 per cent supported a tiering system for how library services will be promoted and invested in going forward.
• Almost 50 per cent agreed that it is appropriate for councils to look at different ways of operating libraries.
• 45 per cent agreed a 'community managed' approach for delivering library services should be explored by the council.

As a result of the feedback, the strategy has now been updated and is recommended for approval by the council's environment and communities committee on 27 November.

The council is proposing to move forward with a tiering system for libraries – mirroring how many other councils already operate their own sites – and to introduce a 'community managed' approach for delivering services.

This will see the council working in partnership with local councils, community groups and organisations, who will help to maintain and enhance the services available.

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, said: "Our wish is to continue developing our library services so they meet the needs of our communities far into the future.

"But unprecedented financial pressures mean we must also be realistic about how these services are delivered and that the limited resources the council has are focused on the places where demand and need is greatest.

"We have reflected on all feedback received through our public consultation.

"In doing so – and through partnership working with town and parish councils and local community organisations – I am pleased that we have been able to make some positive updates to our libraries strategy.

"This includes proposing smaller reductions in opening hours for some of our sites, while in some cases, we are now able to keep the opening hours as they are now.

"We have also listened to comments about promoting our libraries better to increase usage, and have a plan in place for that, and there are also some proposals we are not moving forward with at this stage due to feedback.

"This includes proposals to extend library opening hours by keeping them open through the use of technology instead of staff."

Following engagement with town and parish councils, 'top-up' funding has provisionally been agreed for Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley, Handforth, Macclesfield and Poynton libraries.

When combined with existing town council support for Crewe and Nantwich libraries, this equates to local council investment in library services of more than £166,000, which delivers 41.5 library opening hours each week.

As a result of the entire engagement process with town and parish councils Alderley Edge Parish Council will provide funding to secure Saturday morning opening hours, alongside continued volunteer led provision on a Tuesday afternoon each week and Handforth Parish Council will provide funding for 3.5 hours on a Monday afternoon.

For Alderley Edge library the final proposal is to reduce the opening hours staffed by the Council to 10am to 1.30pm on Wednesdays and 1pm to 5pm on Fridays.

The council must make savings in library services of more than £600k over the next two years to support the council's medium-term financial strategy (MTFS) 2024-2028.

Subject to committee approval, the Libraries Strategy 2024-28 will go live from 1 January 2025.

Cllr Warren added: "As a council, we're embarking on a significant transformation journey, and this will be delivered over the same time period as this libraries strategy and beyond.

"Libraries – in terms of the services they offer and because of their central locations within our towns – will play a key part in how we deliver our transformation plan and how we promote and deliver the early intervention and prevention services that are so vital to our communities."

Proposed tier system for libraries:

Tier one – Congleton, Crewe, Macclesfield, Nantwich and Wilmslow. These sites would become 'library hubs' and continue to provide the core library services along with free support around health, employment, skills, education and personal finance, and host other services, such as banking hubs.

Tier two – Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Middlewich, Poynton and Sandbach. These sites would continue to offer the core library and customer services, with opening hours updated to match when the libraries are busiest. Some of the sites – dictated by need – could include some of the targeted services found at the tier one sites.

Tier three – Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley and Handforth. These sites would be known as 'community libraries' and act as customer service points and offer a small range of activities. They would be staffed by Cheshire East Council employees for up to 1.5 days during the week. The council is engaging with community organisations and town and parish councils to explore opportunities for them to operate library services in their local areas during the remainder of the week.

Tier four is the existing mobile library and the home library service, which is delivered by volunteers and offered to those residents who are unable to leave their homes.

Click here to read the full report to 27 November's environment and communities committee.