Campaigners against the library cuts stood on the steps of County Hall from 9.30am, before the Executive Meeting. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire County Council executive members voted in favour of proposals designed to save the service £1.7 million.
Under the proposals, 30 libraries will become community-run libraries, plus in some areas, community hubs will be created where no library resources presently exist. Over 100 jobs would be lost in the process as well.
The changes come due to Lincolnshire County Council, who manage library provision in the county, needing to make £2 million savings after cuts from government.
The original plans to cut library services were met with a number of criticisms from the public, so a revised proposal was created in November.
There will still be 10 “Tier 1″ libraries, such as Lincoln Central, which will see no changes to provisions.
Meanwhile, the five “Tier 2″ libraries will also remain the same, however instead of only being open 25 hours a week, they will run for up to 31 hours per week instead — although Bourne will be open for 45 hours due an agreement with South Kesteven District Council.
Reading and music groups, schools library service, prison services, Bookstart, Listening Lincs, Call Connect, and other online and telephone services will also continue to run as normal.
Council support
The council will support up to 40 community-run libraries, with 29 communities made up of more than 550 households receiving large mobile stops of at least two hours a month.
The council also intends to raise the number of Tier 4 mobile stops, upon proof that at least six people use the service for at least 30 minutes per month.
So far, there have been 42 expressions of interest from communities in running their own library, with 25 existing facilities receiving at least one bid.
Birchwood, Cherry Willingham, Crowland, Nettleham and North Hykeham libraries in Lincoln all received more than one bid.
Communities can submit an expression of interest up until January 31, and Lincolnshire County Council will now send out letters and consult within communities that still have no bids for a hub.
Without any interest, that area will be given mobile services instead.
The council will offer communities at least 4,000 items of stock, a £15,000 one-off investment, £5,167 revenue grant, a 10 year lease with a four-year peppercorn rent, IT provisions, Library Development Officers, support and training, and further dedicated Community Advisors if needed during the transition period.
During the transition period, the council will also aim to keep the current library provisions open at 60% of usual hours until the hubs are ready to operate — but this can be no later than March 31, 2015.
However, at least 35 librarian posts will be lost, and 102 fewer posts to fill overall. Instead, it will be expected that volunteers come forward to run the services.
Positive takeup
However, within the meeting councillors were quick to praise the efforts of communities and those proposing to volunteer, describing the take up so far as “positive” and “encouraging”.
Councillor Nick Worth, Executive Member for Libraries, said that while residents may not be happy about the proposals, they have generally been understanding of the cuts the council face and seen some good ideas for running libraries over the coming years.
He also added that communities are free to do as they choose with their community hub, and the County Council will not be telling them how to run the library, merely offer support and training where needed.
Councillor Colin Davie for Ingoldmells Rural, who would see the addition of a community hub in his constituency due to the proposals, said:
“Communities are trying to shape the place they live… and we as a council should be supportive of that.”
Council officers will also be open to holding or attending meetings within communities who were interested in setting up a hub.
It was also added that various departments have had to go through cuts, and even the current library provision had to make savings, such as alterations within the IT service.
Nick Worth said: “I’m pleased, because at the end of the day we’ve been able to provide more static libraries than we started with, and still make £1.73 million in savings.
“It’s important for people to know that their libraries will be there, whether they’re run by the council or community groups.
“I understand that some residents will not be happy about the proposals, and it’s very clear a number of them are quite angry and they want their service to stay the same.
“Unfortunately, we’re in changing times and the County Council is going to be under a lot of financial pressure for many years to come. An option of staying as we are is not an option.
“We, as elected members, have to make some very difficult decisions. We appreciate that not everybody is going to be happy with that decision, but we have to make them.
“We will write to the communities that haven’t come forward with any interest yet, and where we know people in those areas, we’ll be approaching them as well, because what we want to do is open up the communication.
“There are often opportunities that people are not aware of, but once you start the conversation people will come forward. Then we can take it from there.”
He added: “It will be quite operational from here on out. We’ll be spending a lot of time working with those communities to ensure they’re got a sustainable business plans, we can help them if they are looking for grants and we can have discussions with them about the costings of the buildings so they can be assured that it’s going to be sustainable for them as well as us.
“I think it’s an exciting time for them. There will be a lot of operational work going on over the next couple of months to ensure we can have some libraries in place on May 6 to start the process off.”
Once the deadline for expression on interest in a hub is over on January 31, 2014, implementation will run until May 6, followed by the end of the transition period on March 31, 2015.
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Robbie Gotts’ loan spell at Lincoln City has come to an end, as parent club Leeds have recalled the young midfielder and sent him to Salford.
Gotts, 21, made a total of 12 appearances in all competitions for the Imps, scoring one goal in the 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley in the Papa John’s Trophy.
He also won two man of the match awards while at the LNER Stadium, in a 1-0 league win away at Swindon Town, and a 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle.
The versatile central midfield player, who also played as a right back for the Imps, has now moved to League Two and joined Salford City until the end of the season.
Robbie Gotts. | Photo: Lincoln City FC
Lincoln City thanked Robbie for his contributions during his time at the LNER Stadium, saying: “We wish him well in his career.”
The loss of Gotts has freed up space in the Lincoln squad as Michael Appleton looks to strengthen his team ahead of a promotion run this season.
The Imps are currently sat four points clear of second placed Hull City at the top of the League One table, having played 21 of the scheduled 46 league games.
Fans will hope this is the only loan player to go back to his parent club from Lincoln in the January transfer window, as rumours surrounding star man Brennan Johnson’s future remain rife.
Chris Hughton, manager of Johnson’s parent club Nottingham Forest, told local media that he is better off at Lincoln due to his regular playing time, which will ease some Imps fans’ fears.
Developers want to to build a 66 bed care home for the elderly on Daisy Road in Holbeach.
LNT Care Developments said the care home will have fully en-suite bedrooms, spacious communal areas, a cinema, library, garden room and tea shop surrounded by landscaped gardens.
Nick Broadbent, Development Director at the company, said: “We are delighted to be involved in providing a care home in Holbeach. The home is designed to provide a high-quality resource for elderly people in the local community.
“The facility will incorporate intelligent dementia design and be eco-friendly by benefitting from ground source heat pumps and LED lighting keeping utility costs low.”
LNT is currently building on 16 sites nationwide.
Proposed view to inner courtyard. | Image: LNT Care Developments
Chairman of the Council, Francis Biggadike for the Holbeach Town ward, said: “Government now recognise there is a need to improve the care for the elderly population and this application will help to achieve this aim.”
South Holland District Council will decide in due course whether plans will be approved or rejected.
Site location for care home. | Image: LNT Care Developments
Area where care home could be built in Holbeach. | Image: Google Maps
Two shops on the same street in Lincoln have been given a one star hygiene rating at the same time.
European Store and Golden Leaf, both on Portland Street, were inspected by city council officials on December 9, 2020.
Findings of the inspection were published on Friday, January 15, 2021, with both stores requiring “major improvement” on their management of food safety.
Golden Leaf, a Chinese supermarket with a cafe under the same name next door, was given a “generally satisfactory” score for its cleanliness and condition of facilities, but were lacking in other areas.
Golden Leaf on Portland Street in Lincoln.
Hygienic food handling, which includes the cooking, preparing and storage of food, and major improvement is necessary for its management of food safety, according to inspectors.
It is somewhat of an anomaly for Golden Leaf, which has scored five out of five in its two previous inspections, as well as having a maximum review score on Facebook.
The shop used to be located on Tentercroft Street, but made the move to Portland Street in 2018.
Golden Leaf also announced on Saturday, January 9 that owner and founder Jenny Lo would be stepping down to make way for a new owner.
As for European Store, it was rated as generally satisfactory again for cleanliness and condition, as well as hygienic food handling, but management of food safety let it down.
European Store on Portland Street in Lincoln.
It is the first recorded hygiene inspection to take place at European Store, after replacing Shas Barber shop at 3 Portland Street.