WCC Special Libraries Overview Scrutiny Committee - Part 2: 34 Parallel Projects

34 PARALLEL PROJECTS

It seems in the last five months of possible library closures, there have been many questions and very few answers. An OSC is about posing questions and having as many answers before Thursday 14 July 2011 at Cabinet - that's not a lot of time.

I was expecting some real cutting edge analysis of the facts - what I get was a feeling that no matter what was said, this financial gun was going to go off. It was the first time I'd heard that phrase, it was backed up with another no financial latitude.

One comment made early on, was how the consultation was still in progress, but staff redundancies had been called for - how is this possible? Another was, how unfair it was to require Community Groups to come up with a robust business case by 19 August. And then what happens after that? Would there be more time? Late in the meeting, a motion was granted where some named libraries would have four weeks extra (more to come on that).

By now, we know how the library staff were briefed just before the public. This has allowed the preferential form to be available soon with a Do you or don't you want voluntary redundancy? One councillor made a few points how staff could be given false hope that they do have a job when it may seem they don't.

Moving onto the 16 business cases, it seemed very little details were available. Can we have an update on all 16 please? No. Why not? Because some are just a letter of interest while others are a fully workable business plan. Can we see those then? No. How about the named six business cases (Baddesley Ensor, Binley Woods, Bulkington, Harbury, Kingsbury and Studley) - can we see those? No - it would break confidentiality. Is there anything else? The Community has to do the work, we are happy to give the advice. It was a 3 month period, some Communities struggled.

Courtesy of WCC Item 12

Then onto the statistics. The Community Analysis data sheets do not make any sense. The bus timetables are incorrect, the area facts are incorrect. There is no mention of the cumulative effect on a community if it loses a library. 

In Gloucestershire, there is a judicial review - will that affect Warwickshire?  The legal implications in Glos are 'the process used to make their decision' - this may or may not impact on us (Warwickshire).

There were some questions on why Warwick Library is being merged with Warks Direct and moved to Shire Hall. Why now? Answers ranged from it's easy to control, it's close and we have the structure (in place).

Then came some Qs on why School libraries have not been used to merge existing libraries. No solid answers.

Back to statistics again with: Why are some maps measured in kilometres (5km) and some in miles (2miles)? This will affect how judgements are made especially in rural areas which may lead to rural isolation. There needs to me more accuracy in this data. IF flawed, then rethink.

Note on this post: There were many more points I have not listed, probably as they are incomplete or I do not want to mislead anyone. Overall, there was a comment made how ALL THIS is like running 34 PARALLEL PROJECTS.

WCC Special Libraries Overview Scrutiny Committee - Part 1: Sign of the Times

Today, at 9.30am in Committee Room 2, Shire Hall, Warwick, there were twenty three people in the room. That included Councillors, WCC staff, one person from Dunchurch Community Group, but NO members of the public. My guess, holding a meeting like this on a Monday morning is a great time to get a zero turnout.  

It was about taking an in depth look into the WCC Libraries Report: jobs, closures and decisions. This will have a bearing on what is voted upon on Thursday 14 July 2011 in three days time. I've spent the last few days ploughing through all 326 pages (sure you've seen Parts 01-5).

Meeting started with the odd words about who hadn't read the report at all, those who had read bits and then another who claimed you only need read 35 pages and disregard the rest. 

At this point, I'll tell you again, these are my thoughts as an observer in the room. I'm not referencing each Councillor on a who said what and when. That's what I did last time on 4 March 2011 - many people seemed to like that.

It seems proper reporters do that, and as I keep getting reminded at Shire Hall - I am a member of the public.  This is now a standing joke with some other media types I know (you know who you are). If I was honest, I expected at least some press types at the meeting today. I hope this isn't what will happen on Thursday.

Then again, after asking too many questions about democracy and how we spread the word, I arrived to find a sign waiting for me, PUBLIC NOTICE: ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF THE REGULATORY COMMITTEE IS NOT PERMITTED. So, I've been told. The message I've just had back from WCC is all to do with due process and voting. There was another reason, but as hard as I try it escapes me. I thought Eric Pickles wants the public in meetings like this with a camcorder strapped to their wrist. He does - Warwickshire doesn't.

Part 02 to follow very soon.

WCC Library Report Part 05: Community Analysis - All Libraries Warwickshire

Do not Destroy this Achievement

Jump to: Part 01, Part 02, Part 03 and Part 04

In this section, Community Analysis (pages 275-278). I wish I knew how many people have bothered to read the Library Report this far? As for the wiK posts, they end up in may places, see the screen on the left on how whatsinKenilworth has 4 (out of 5) of the Top Stories at Voices For The Library Links.

The document starts off telling us 15 petitions with 10,041 signatures were received. Then, it throws out many numbers and percentages which are quite meaningless. 

Try this for size: Q1 – What is The main way you are involved with libraries? 94% say they are a customer. The graph looks like this.

There were 426 impact letters/emails received. Now that would be a good Freedom of Information request - which would be denied, (my guess citing data protection - know different get in touch).

So, what's the Impact on the Customer? Main Themes from Public Meetings top out with Impact on the vulnerable - Children 12 

Main Themes from Road Shows - No numerical data - what? Themes from Letters and Emails top out with 234 people saying they will lose a meeting place and community focus. This is followed by distance to travel and then two sets of cost (parking and travel).

There is one statement that follows which I have NEVER seen before which sits as the Mount Everest of data to me: Area Facts (page 277) Population within two miles of Library (based on best fit of super output areas) - 88% of households = approx 470,888 population of Warwickshire. 

If I was designing a Library Service or Community Meeting Place and achieved half a million people within two miles - I would like to think that was a success - It is. And what are Warwickshire thinking of doing? Taking 16 of these places away. That may be the correct course of action, but I cannot see it. 

I wonder what a medical, educational or charity professional would think if they were in Africa and set up help famine bases within two miles of 88% of the population? I do - they would work day and night to achieve the other 12%.

That's 283 pages (of 326) reviewed which is 88%, next up the other 12% - how weird is that?

ONLINE ALBUM FOR IMAGES ABOVE

WCC Library Report Part 04: 210 Pages and not one Picture - People learn from Pictures

Courtesy of  Research IBM

Jump to: Part 01, Part 02 and Part 03

In this mini marathon that's become the WCC Library Report, a quick copy and paste tells me, we have 107,105 words which equals 357 pages of a novel. I just wish it were a holiday read.

In this section, we dip into the Community Analysis: All libraries and mobiles 40 sections (pp 69-278: 210 pages) I posted earlier, page 275 gives All Libraries Data is worth a look (I will come back to that in detail in a moment).

Here's the thing, as an exTeacher, I taught children from four to eleven years old. And in that time, I showed them a lot of pictures, told them a lot of stories and eventually interrogated a lot of data. In year six, in the SATS, eleven year olds (in maths and science) are asked questions on charts, graphs and tables.

Let me tell you how many charts, graphs and visualisations there are in all 326 pages - None. 

To quote from an earlier post (April 2011): As humans, we think in pictures. It helps us understand the world. And for that reason, I have produced 19 Facing the Challenge Charts, 11 Library Online Statistics Charts, 4 Meeting and Roadshow tables and 36 other Library posts at this site.  The example from Evolution at Wikipedia illustrates text versus picture - which one can you understand in a only a few seconds?

Next up, in Part 5, pages 275-278 Community Analysis - All Libraries Warwickshire.

WCC Library Report Part 03: The next 11,000 words - Somewhere to Hang my Hat

Somewhere I can Hang my Hat

Jump to:  WCC Library Report Part 01 and
WCC Library Report Part 02

In the next 38 pages (pp 6-43), there are around 11,000 words. That could be equivalent to reading the first 35 pages of a Harry Potter novel (and yes, I do wish I had a magic wand - don't we all).

So what's in it? Many many short paragraphs labelled with numbers (there are 14 in the introduction). They tell us the report's purpose is to feedback from the 12 week consultation. What I'm looking for, at this stage, is any information I can hang my hat on and disregard the waffle.

In my view, each point could be contested. For example, The proposals to reduce the number of council-run libraries from 34 to 18 would affect less than 10% of all library visits (1.9). As as data fact, that may be true. But would you take away a disabled access ramp in a village, just because only two people use it? My point comes from equality - and it's not new. I am not the first, and certainly not the last, to ask - how can it be a consultation when WCC have decided to bring down the hammer and the people have to either watch it fall or rally a survival plan?

Online Statistics

Section two is called Transfomation which talks about plans since 2008 (makeovers, audiobooks, ebooks). Next comes Budget and after that Consultation. There is one section called Informing local people (4.11) which talks about radio, TV and newspapers. 

Then this, In addition to traditional methods such as roadshows and meetings, we used less formal ways to engage hard-to-reach groups who could be affected by the proposed changes - including Twitter and, for the first time, a consultation 'blog' (4.11.5). I'm speechless, this is 2011, the whole reason libraries are finding it tough is because there is a massive increase in online use. And then, some bright spark calls blog readers and twitter users hard-to-reach groups. And then it says a few tweets reached 56,190 followers (4.11.6).

Try this from the Key Findings (pp19-20): 5.2 Summary of results from consultation questionnaire

• 4,977 questionnaires were returned (55% on paper and 45% online)

• 94% of these were from individual library customers

• 3,098 (62.2%) of responses related to an individual library

• Two-thirds of respondents were female

• Nearly 40% were over 65 and almost 60% between 25 and 64

• Over half of respondents understood why the Council needs to make changes

• A third said the proposed changes would have a significant impact on them

• 40% said the changes would have some impact, and a fifth said none

• Two-thirds said they would still be able to access a library

• More than half said they would be able to access library services online

• Over 40% would be interested in using a community library and a third not

• 910 respondents said they were interested in volunteering

5.3 We received 15 petitions containing more than 10,000 signatures:

Baddesley 339

Bedworth Heath 102

Bidford 525

Binley Woods 718

Bulkington 3399

Camp Hill 150

Dordon Primary School 117

Dunchurch 1403

Henley 807

Hartshill 181

Keresley 289

Kingsbury 873

Studley 700

Water Orton 256

Othello mobile (Bedworth) 182

Total signatures 10,041

So, far from reading half of the report, and the facts I have seen, there is a large shadow of REASONABLE DOUBT that closing 16 libraries cannot be a good idea. For example, the public want their libraries to STAY OPEN. 

Section 6 Submissions for Running a Community Run Library (p 17) and the Community Business Case. To read page 26 and see the names of actual members of the Public, Church Reverends, Councillors and Charity Groups is a moving experience. You can almost hear the group discussions and feel the energy of these committed and courageous people. I do know that many local MPs assisted too, but they are not named.

Hold the Phone: 6.15 Evaluation Process Outcome states there are only six submissions which had provided business cases. They were: Baddesley Ensor, Binley Woods, Bulkington, Harbury, Kingsbury and Studley.


This contrasts with the very public and PR Spun Press Release of: Sixteen communities have come forward expressing an interest in running their own libraries and we are looking to see if those business cases can happen. They could have easily said, we have 6 out of 16 that are looking good - but WCC didn't (38% looks like a figure best left buried). What they did say was all Community Groups have an extension until Friday 19 August 2011.

The next section is 7 Impact on Employees. This one did make the news. The Preference Form (7.4), I have been unofficially told will be available from 23 July 2011. Page 32-33 give some very detailed 8 Financial, 9 Legal and 10 Property statements - I'm not even going to begin to dissect those (at this stage).

And finally, 12 Conclusion: the future (p 39). 12.10 states, Libraries will continue to be a brand people can trust - where did that statement come from, where does it fit in and what relevance does it have? In my view, it must be from some training course somewhere on public relations or customer service. What I do agree on is that times and therefore libraries must change and use technology (12.1/2).

Well that's it for this section. We've walked 13 metres (out of the 97m) which is 13% or page 43 of 326. No idea what I'm referring to, then - go back and read Part 01.

WCC Library Report Part 02 - 11 Recommendations: Welcome to Google

Google Welcomes the Report

Jump to:  Making Sense of the WCC Library Report Part 01

In this post, we explore the opening sections of the report and extract anything that is important. I would like to call them highlights, but for library campaigners and library staff - lowlights may be a better word.

Contents of 326 pages: Agenda (pages 1-5: 5 pages), Libraries Report (pages 6-43: 38 Pages): LIBRARY REPORT (now at Google Docs) Note: page numbers (in this post) refer to the pdf document.

Page 6: Recommendations: 1. That this committee considers and comments upon the contents of the report which will be submitted to Cabinet which meets on 14 July 2011.

Page 10, Starts a 37 page Libraries Report. The cabinet recommendations are written at the start and at the end. Why do this? WCC may say to give the councillors a summary. Surely, it's read the report first and then think about the action. 

I am trying to think of a reasonable example where you are told to make a decision, before you hear the evidence. Is there one? Even in the many court room movies we've all watched, the prosecutor's says, 'He's guilty Your Honour!' and the defence always steps up, as quick as a flash, saying, 'He's innocent as the day he was born!' Debate for another day I'm sure.

Here are the 11 recommendations in full. When I post them here at wiK they will be Google searchable (bringing the information to the masses). Previously, they existed in a pdf document (public, but hidden from google). This is a big issue - it's a like going to a clothes shop and knowing they have socks in your size, but no one will help you look.

Recommendations in full (with yellow annotations from wiK) - That Cabinet:

1 Authorises the Strategic Director for Resources and the Head of Customer Service to implement arrangements to reduce the total opening hours of Atherstone, Coleshill, Bedworth, Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington, Kenilworth, Lillington, Whitnash, Alcester, Shipston, Southam, Stratford and Wellesbourne libraries as set out in section 11 of this report subject to recommendations 3 and 4 below. Implementation to be as soon as possible and by 1 April 2012 at the latest.

2 Agrees that the pattern of opening hours at each of the libraries referred to in recommendation 1 will be determined following consultation with the public.

3 Agrees that wherever possible the services of volunteers should be used to increase the opening hours of the libraries referred to in recommendation 1 above the proposed minimum level set out in section 11 of the report.

4 Agrees that discussions should take place with Warwick District Council to implement integrated working at Kenilworth, Lillington and Whitnash and with Warwickshire Police regarding Coleshill, to seek to increase the opening hours above the proposed minimum level set out in Section 11 of the report.

5 Approves extending the deadline for finalisation of all community-run library bids to Friday 19 August 2011, with a further report being presented to Cabinet in October 2011.

6 Agrees that the Warwickshire Direct/library arrangements at Stockingford should be reviewed with a further report to Cabinet in October 2011.

7 Agrees that proposals for a reconfigured mobile service is presented to Cabinet in October 2011.

8 Agrees to reallocate £100,000 of capital funding in 2011/12 previously approved for One Stop Shop expansion to provide a capital fund available to communities wishing to set up community-run libraries.

9 Notes the financial impact of deferring decisions on the achievement of the savings plan and also note that over the three years of the overall Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) that £143,000 of savings has been double counted between Libraries and Physical Assets, which should lie with the property rationalisation programme. Cabinet should reiterate that the 2011/12 savings for these areas remain, or identify compensating savings elsewhere, whilst noting that the MTFP will need to be refreshed for 2012/13 onwards for the impact of any double counting of savings.

10 Agrees that the Book / Stock Fund should not be reduced any further.

11 Supports the consultation with staff and notes that staffing reductions will be implemented in accordance with the Council’s agreed policies.

Note: if some parts above are not highlighted, that's because I do not regard them as unimportant, it's just, I do not understand them and will read the report...

Making Sense of the WCC Library Report Part 01 - Take a Walk with Me

Market Place, Warwick

The Warwickshire Library Report is 326 pages, laid end to end, it's 97 metres long. Take a walk with me from the Shire Hall steps, across the Market Place and stop just beyond the Museum, as that's where it ends...at Tesco Extra (trust me it does, just see page 326).

And having checked the WCC Democracy website many times over the last few days, I have no idea why a Library Report can exist in may versions. Each document has a total page count ranging from 317, 320, 324 and 326. I'm sure the folk at WCC will have an explanation (and yes I know the agenda is two pages - but it still does not add up).

Guess, we all know the OSC is on Monday 11 July 2001, at 9.30am at Shire Hall, Warwick. The media, including wiK, has reported only the bare facts (Community Groups get longer until Friday 19 August 2011, there will be job losses: wiK post). I'm going to see what these 326 pages are all about. For the record, the 97 metres comes from an A4 page height of 297mm x 326 pages. What a wedge of paper.

Did you know, if 15 Councillors wanted a paper copy, that would be 5,000 sheets of A4 paper. And a full council (at 62 members), that's over 20,000 pieces of A4 paper. So, that's why they have laptops - Councillors, please use them (they didn't last time). 

And just before I begin, did you know that these Library Closure and Cuts began on 2 February 2011 with a leaked document to the BBC ahead of the official WCC press release - that's 5 months 6 days ago today (156 days).

Contents of the 326 pages

Agenda (pages 1-5: 5 pages)

Libraries Report (pages 6-43: 38 Pages)

Facing the Challenge, Issue 3, March 2011 (pp 44-49: 5 pages)

Library Service Transformation 2010-2014 (pp 50-57: 8 pages)

Scoping Document (pp 58-59: 2 pages)

Stakeholders Dialogue Mapping (pp 60: 1 page)

FTC Libraries Consultation (pp 61-68: 8 pages)

Community Analysis: All libraries/mobiles 40 sections (pp 69-278: 210 pages)

   NOTE: page 275 gives All Libraries Data (worth a look)

FTC Have Your Say Meeting Dates (pp 279-283: 6 pages)

FTC Report of Public Consultation 18 march to 9 June (pp 284-305: 22 pages)

Impact of Saving £1 from opening hours alone (pp 306-308: 3 pages)

Community Library Business Case Appraisal Form (pp309-316: 8 pages)

Future Vision for Libraries: The Digital Society (pp 317-326: 10 pages)

And that's it, all 326 pages, I will be posting on each section over the weekend, but let me leave you with this snippet...

On page 31, it states: 7.2 The estimated impact of the proposed changes on the workforce would be a reduction by at least 50 FTEs (approximately 86 - 120 individual employees). There will be an impact on women as this is a predominantly female workforce.

And on page 307, it states: Staffing - We calculate that the equivalent of 53 full-time staff members (approximately 86 individual staff members) would have to be made redundant at a cost of approximately £900,000 – 1,230,000. 

Compare that with the official WCC News Press Release: Libraries consultation update (8 July 2011) released today. Comments Welcome...

Warwickshire CC Shire Hall Public Meeting - Tuesday 28 June 2011

Warwickshire County Council

For those people who have time to attend a WCC public meeting, there is one tomorrow (Tues 28 June 2011 at 10.00 in the Council Chamber).

From my recent experience, it's unusual for members of the press or the public to attend unless something very newsworthy or controversial is on the agenda. Then again, as most of the documents are available online - is there any point in attending in person?

As you may have read (on twitter), wiK live tweeted the WCC Shire Hall meeting on 16 June 2011 (Youth Service issue). There was a packed room, but no one from the public or media attended (to my knowledge)...[update 28 June 2011: Lucy Thomson, Reporter from Coventry/Warwickshire Times was in attendance @lucytommo].

Consider this, Coventry City Council and Birmingham City Council broadcast a live video stream of their meetings. Warwickshire County Council have produced nothing so far. Stratford District Council have made a few broadcasts with the help of Stratford Upon Avon College. While Warwick District Council, also have nothing to show.

Councillor Christopher Saint tweets from the Council Chamber from Shire Hall

Tweet from @cjsaint_cj

This is one reason why Councillors should use Social Media - to tell us something that's new. This tweet was sent a few minutes ago by Councillor Chris Saint from the WCC Annual Meeting at Shire Hall. 

Only yesterday, I was discussing the difference between email and a tweet with another Councillor. Let this be the start of great things from any Warwickshire Councillor #WCTP Warwickshire Councillors Twitter Project. Hat Tip Cllr Saint. For the small list of WCC Councillors who tweet see The List.

Election Results from Warwick District Council

Local Election Results from WarwickDC
Results were tweeted from @Warwick_DC as they happened

Final results: Conservative (up 2 to 25) - in overall control,
Labour (down 1 to 8) Liberal Democrat, stay on 9, Independent (1) Whitnash Residents Associationn (3) (info from @Lesreidpolitics)



Kenilworth Abbey: Ann Blacklock (Lib Dem) 1,495, Michael Coker (Con) 1,589 and George Illingworth (Con) 1,479. No change here either.
Conservatives hold all three seats in Kenilworth St Johns: John Stephen Dagg 1,478, Richard Davies 1,603 and Norman Vincett 1,441.
KENILWORTH PARK HILL (3 seats) - Felicity Bunker CON (1731) Andrew Mobbs CON (1673) David Shilton CON (1885)
(Tweets are from @Warwick_DC and @leamcourier)

Beef in Warwick Road have Jobs available

Beef require Full Time Chefs and Grill Chefs
Apply to Iain Miller ipmiller@live.co.uk
11 Warwick Road CV8 1HD
Other Beef pages at wiK
Beef in Warwick Road
Menus

Social Media Surgery 30 September at Warwick Library

There will be one of these groups meeting in Kenilworth on 16 December, but we can all go to Warwick as it's this week. It seems to be the first f it's kind. Full text from the poster reads:

Warwickshire Social Media Surgery
Thursday 30 September 2010
5:30 to 7pm at Warwick Library, Barrack Street, Warwick
Are you involved with a voluntary, arts or community group in Warwickshire? Are you interested in finding more about how social media, such as Twitter, Facebook and blogging, could help your organisation? If so, please come along to our free social media surgery and get one to one advice specifically tailored to your needs.

For more information visit http://socialmediasurgery.com/surgeries/warwickshire Contact Katie Sahota on 07974 712 466 or via email katie.sahota@yahoo.co.uk.

A social media surgery is a pretty informal gathering of people who want to learn how to use the web to communicate campaign or collaborate. They are deliberately relaxed. You will get to sit alongside someone who understands good ways to use the internet and they'll show you useful free tools. If you like what you see they can also help you set up your blog, or Facebook page or Twitter account. Most social media surgeries have an event every few weeks, so you can keep coming back for help.

If you are from a community or voluntary group and want to learn how to use the social web, please come along.