8 - Decant of Library Services to the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub - FINAL
Renfrewshire Council · 14 June 2023
Back to Leadership Board — 14 June 2023 and its agenda
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Leadership Board On: 14th June 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Decant of library services to the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Leadership Board approved the temporary closure of cultural assets and the suspension of associated services managed by OneRen in the Paisley Town Centre area in 2018, with the aim of delivering the cultural investment programme to significantly enhance and modernise the cultural assets for current and future generations to experience, enjoy and treasure. 1.2 The Council is working closely with OneRen to ensure that the projects within the programme progress through each project phase from construction, to building fit-out, into operational readiness, before test and preview events, opening and launch of public programming. 1.3 Prior to the construction phase of the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub, library services were decanted from Paisley Central Library to a temporary modular building situated in the Lagoon Leisure Centre carpark. Paisley Central library services have been delivered from this site during the construction phase of this project. 1.4 OneRen is required to obtain the Council’s consent to suspend the provision of services under the terms of the Services Agreement with the Council. As the Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub project will soon be moving from the construction phase into the building fit out phase, the purpose of this report is to seek Board approval to suspend library services at the temporary Paisley Central Library site for a period of
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around eight weeks. The indicative period for the decant to commence would be in Autumn 2023, and customers and elected members would be notified in advance of the specific date for the temporary closure and decant to commence. 1.5 The 8 week timeframe is required to enable the decant of library services from the temporary modular building at the Lagoon Leisure Centre to the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub on the High Street. During this period, service users will be re-directed to alternative libraries, as well as to the wide range of online resources available to all library service users. 1.6 Once the decant from the temporary site to the new learning and cultural hub is complete, the modular building will be available to utilise in the Council’s wider capital investment programme. __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Leadership Board: 1. Agrees to the request from OneRen to temporarily suspend the provision of Paisley Central Library services from the modular building situated in the Lagoon Leisure Centre carpark for a period of approximately eight weeks. This will commence at a date to be confirmed in Autumn 2023, and will allow the time necessary for the decant of library resources and services to the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub on Paisley High Street. _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Council previously approved the Paisley Heritage and Asset Strategy “Paisley the Untold Story” which set out an ambitious regeneration programme for Paisley’s cultural infrastructure. The strategy involved carrying out major refurbishment and extension works in the cultural venues in the town centre area. The investment aims to promote cultural tourism, restore civic pride and re-establish Renfrewshire’s profile as a creative, innovative and radical place to live, work and play. 3.2 This capital investment programme builds on the significant cultural and heritage foundations of the town and necessitated the temporary closure of various cultural venues and related cultural services managed by OneRen during the construction period. 3.3 Under the terms of the Services Agreement in operation since 2015, OneRen is required to seek consent from the Council to suspend specified services from any of the venues it manages on behalf of the
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Council. OneRen has requested permission from the Council to suspend the services for Paisley Central Library currently operating from the temporary building beside the Lagoon Leisure Centre to allow the decant to the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub. 3.4 As the Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub project will be moving from the construction phase into the building fit out phase towards the end of the summer/start of autumn period, the purpose of this report is to seek Board approval to suspend library services at the temporary Paisley Central Library site for a period of approximately 8 weeks. The exact timing of this will be adjusted to suit the actual dates following construction completion and mobilisation of OneRen resource to ensure that the library is closed for as short a period as possible. 3.5 Once the date for the decant to commence is confirmed, OneRen will issue communications to advise library service users of the change and to advise of services at alternative libraries (Ferguslie, Foxbar, Glenburn and Ralston libraries), as well as the online resources available to all library service users. Communication will also be undertaken with elected members. _________________________________________________________ 4. Library Decant Arrangements 4.1 A detailed plan has been developed to manage the decant from the temporary library site and from the library resource area in Tweedie Hall to the new facility on the High Street. A key part of the plan includes the shelving fitout and arrangement of books over the multi- level facility, placement of furniture, staff training and building familiarisation, technology set up, children play area and hosting pre- opening visits for schools and groups, final set up and opening. 4.2 On completion of the decant and dispersal of furniture from the temporary site to other library facilities, the modular building will be released to support other projects in the Council’s capital programme. _________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – the costs of the decant are built into the investment programme and any financial implications for OneRen will be reflected in future budget reports. 2. HR & Organisational Development – none.
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3. Community/Council Planning – the renovation and extension of the cultural venues aims to increase footfall in the town centre area, offer potential benefits to traders and to assist the economy of Paisley Town Centre and the wider Renfrewshire area. The renovations will also promote cultural tourism, restore civic pride and re-establish Renfrewshire’s profile as a creative, innovative and radical place. 4. Legal – approval of the recommendation will allow for compliance with the Services Agreement between the Council and OneRen. 5. Property/Assets – The temporary closure will enable the decant and opening of the new premise on the High Street, as part of the long-term investment in the Council’s cultural assets. 6. Information Technology – Library service users will be directed to other libraries in the local area to access ICT suites during the decant period. 7. Equality & Human Rights – The recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – risk assessments and safe operating procedures will be conducted to manage the decant process and to operate the new facility. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. Cosla Policy Position – None. _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Paisley Town Centre Regeneration-Consent for Temporary Closure of Cultural Assets Managed by Renfrewshire Leisure (Leadership Board, 19 September 2018) ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Laura McIntyre (laura.mcintyre@renfrewshire.gov.uk)