BOROUGH OF POOLE

HAMWORTHY AND POOLE AREA COMMITTEE
DATE 7 March 2007

COMMUNITY LIBRARY BIG LOTTERY FUND BID FOR HAMWORTHY

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF CULTURE AND COMMUNITY LEARNING

1.PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1To inform the Committee about a bid to the Big Lottery Fund for the redevelopment of Hamworthy Library.

2.DECISIONS REQUIRED

2.1To endorse the Big Lottery Bid and to offer any suggestions or support to achieve the Lottery Bid outcomes.

3.BACKGROUND/INFORMATION

The Big Lottery Fund– Community Libraries

Project Definition

What is it?

  • A national programme to stimulate the renewal of public library buildings
  • Programme will increase number of libraries providing community based activities

The fund is to enable libraries to offer more than traditional library services to:

  • Invigorate libraries as centres of wider community learning
  • Create, improve and develop library spaces that meet community need
  • Be innovative and promote good practice in the way libraries are designed and run
  • To translate community views into new, improved library services

How much is available?

  • £80m in total
  • For SW – probably £8m
  • Competition for funds via bidding process (favours larger authorities in regard to capacity)
  • Grants between £250k and £2m with 20% max rev for duration of project
    (3 yrs)
  • Average grants estimated to be £800k running over 3 years
  • Match funding of at least 25% is required for bids of £1.5m and above
  • One application per authority

Outcomes

All projects must achieve:

‘Communities are actively engaged in the development, delivery and management of library services’

Additionally, all projects must also achieve 2 of the following:

Increased capacity of libraries to act as centres of wider community learning and development

Greater use of libraries by disadvantaged and disengaged groups

Libraries are better designed, more accessible, more able to meet needs of community

Libraries have stronger long term partnerships with voluntary sector and other service providers

Library buildings use less energy, pollute less, create less waste, and have reduced contribution to climate change

A new way to deliver services – bids should not be used to replace or substitute library services delivered through statute. Projects should be providing community led, innovative library services

Community Engagement – central to programme

What does community engagement look like?

  • More people everywhere getting actively involved in their neighbourhoods
  • Local people able to influence decisions about their own neighbourhoods and public services
  • Working with the community, not for them
  • Community being able to influence decisions on library services in local area
  • Community driven but library led

Process/Timescales

Jan/Feb 07 / Information gathering, presentations to local community, focus groups, develop bid, develop project brief with architect etc
March 07 / Feedback results of consultation and any architect drawings, plans.
Write bid
March 07 / Further assessment of bid in terms of costs, viability etc
30 March 07 / Submit bid, if deemed viable
Sept 07 / Decision on bid. If accepted, prepare plans to draw down development grant
Oct 07 to Mar 08 / Prepare 3 detailed key plans: Community Engagement Plan, Business Plan and Capital Project Plan.
Mar 08 / Submit plans
April 08 / Review and approve plans
Oct 08 / Building works commence

Project Vision (subject to amendment through consultation process).


  • The vision is to work with a local community to develop a library facility that is the centre of community learning and development, and learning based activities. The community library will be developed to meet and provide for the needs of the local community. The library facility will provide a welcoming community space that is exciting and accessible to all sectors of the community. The library will incorporate a community meeting room/learning room, together with an office/interview room.
  • Local residents will have an active role supporting the management of the library and informing library services and activities to meet local need. This will enable local residents to influence library services for their community, and develop a sense of ownership in their library service.
  • The library will provide multi-use spaces for group learning activities and community meetings, for example reading groups, writing groups, language classes, family learning activities, art and museum exhibitions, cultural activities such as drama, health activities such as well-being classes, information seminars about local volunteering or other opportunities. The aim is to facilitate improved literacy and numeracy skills for local residents. The library will also facilitate targeted support e.g. teaching, for vulnerable groups.
  • The library will seek to develop partnerships with local schools, similar to that provided at Rossmore Library and Learning Centre.
  • The library services will provide individual opportunity in both formal and informal learning, and leisure activities. Informal learning may be facilitated by local volunteers.
  • The library will be a focal point for council information and consultation, and provide universal advice and guidance.
  • The library will facilitate advice and guidance drop in sessions to support community need e.g. pensions, finance etc
  • The library will provide a base for local community and police officer
  • The library will provide spaces to support creative industries such as design and art.
  • The opening hours of the library will be determined through the management board and will be responsive to community need. It is envisaged that the library will incorporate self-service technology, and that any additional opening hours is supported by volunteers/work experience.
  • The library should be designed with flexibility in mind to enable a multi-use space. In the evenings and weekends, the library may be used to support youth activities e.g. drop in sessions making use of the community café, IT/learning/leisure etc and facilities for individual and group project work. Links can be developed with the Arts Development Team to provide arts and drama activities.
  • The library will incorporate a café run by volunteers or charity groups providing a social community meeting space
  • Library activities will include all ages and promote inter-generational events, and increase numbers of disadvantaged groups attending the library.
  • The building will be of attractive design to improve the environment of the area.
  • The building will also be designed to reduce utility costs and carbon emissions, and consider innovative solutions such as solar and wind power.
  • A project feasibility team will be established to complete the bid preparation. If successful, a Project Board will be established to provide overall management of the project, and a Community Board Steering Group will be set up with the intention of evolving into a joint management board as the project develops.

Costs

Any stand-alone bid would need to be under £1.5m to avoid match funding. A bid of more than £1.5m could be considered in Hamworthy using section 106 monies as the match-funding element.

Costs will need to be based on anticipated 2008/09 prices.

Initial feasibility costs can be met from the corporate capital feasibility budget subject to portfolio holder approval.

The bid will include all capital building costs and project management/fees etc, internal furbishment costs including RFID, and a revenue element to fund a project manager to develop the community engagement arrangements for three years.

For a stand-alone bid, it is intended that the building costs should not exceed £1.25m, and management/fees/feasibility/project management costs no more than £240,000.

The project will also investigate any grants available that support low carbon emissions and environmental issues.

Big Lottery – next steps

Plans

Architect to draw up plans based on information provided through consultation. Quantity Surveyor to produce costs based on these plans.

Communication/Consultation Plan

Regular updates to Management Team and Portfolio Holder

Briefings with Ward Members

Community consultation:

  • Open presentation with Hamworthy community and invited key stakeholders. Presentations to inform community about project.
  • Invite interest to be part of focus group to discuss community engagement and project in greater detail, to inform bid.

Feedback of outcomes from consultation:

  • Information in library
  • At community lunch – 6 March
  • At Area Committee – 7 March
  • To Community Engagement group meeting

A project feasibility team of Borough of Poole officers has been established to complete the bid preparation. If successful, a Project Board will be established to provide overall management of the project, and a Community Board Steering Group will be set up with the intention of evolving into a joint management board as the project develops.

Caveat

The bid will be subject to further approval by the Borough of Poole in March, in terms of costs, risks and viability etc.

The decision in September 2007 by the Big Lottery Fund could be to reject the bid.

Further verbal report on progress in the preparation of the bid to date will be provided by officers at the Area Committee meeting.

Kevin McErlane

Head of Culture and Community Learning

BACKGROUND PAPERS

Big Lottery Fund website:

Contact Officer:Chas Rowling

Telephone No:01202 262423

Date: 15 February 2007

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