Overview & Scrutiny Briefing

A council committee called the "Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee" is supposed to discuss the council’s proposals for libraries and hold cabinet members and officers to account. We previously emailed the committee last year hoping they would discuss and scrutinise the proposals for libraries in their November meeting. Scrutiny in the meeting was minimal, so we are trying again. The proposed cuts to our library services are on the agenda for the committee's upcoming meeting on Wednesday, January 15th. To aid them in their task of scrutiny, we have prepared a briefing document for them summarising our concerns and questions about the proposals for libraries presented in the final phase of consultation.

In the briefing, we have provided a summary of and commentary on:

• the proposal described in the final phases of consultation (revised Option 4); 

• the finances; 

• the evidence presented; 

• the consultation process; 

• and the way forward.

BLL_OSC_Jan25_Briefing on BCC library proposals.pdf

Download PDF • 592KB

In an accompanying slide deck, we provide analysis of access to library services in the city and when and how the people of Birmingham need and use libraries.

BLL_OSC_Jan25_Access to Birmingham Library Services.pdf

Download PDF • 451KB

We sent both to the committee last week.