Broseley library, customer service point and car park

Together with Broseley Town Council we've been working together over the last year to develop opportunities for new ways of delivering Library and Customer Service Point services from the existing library building and the management of the library public car park.

Moving to new local management arrangements is consistent with our wish to be a commissioning organisation and to identify the best possible local solutions for the ongoing delivery and sustaining of valued local services.

Our preferred approach is to transfer the responsibility for the management of the library, Customer Service Point and library car park to Broseley Town Council. Key elements of this approach include:

• The library and customer service point services continuing to be delivered in their current location in the Old School building with the same opening hours as currently.
• The on-going provision of a full and comprehensive library service including access to public computers, book, DVD and CD loans, events and activities for adults and children, etc.
• Support for local residents, within the library opening hours rather than more limited current Customer Service Point opening hours, to access our services via a freephone facility or to do their business online via a dedicated public computer. Library and Town Council staff will be on hand for anyone who needs help. 
• The relocation of Broseley Town Council office to the existing library building and the creation of a “one stop shop” for people to access information on the local community and Council services.
• An ongoing partnership between us and Broseley Town Council.  We would provide support for both library and customer service point, e.g. provision of the books, access to the library management system, training and the support of expert staff within an agreed Service Level Agreement.  
• A commitment to the provision of ongoing free car parking within the library car park and a recognition of the contribution that this will make to the viability of local businesses.

Both ourselves and Broseley Town Council believe that the proposal outlined here provides the best way to improve the financial efficiency of the existing services (for both organisations), to sustain them over the long term and to develop them in a way that best meets the needs of the local community.

Whilst this is both Councils' preferred option, a second proposal is included in this consultation information for the ongoing management of the library, customer service point and car park by us. To make the same savings as the preferred option, the hours that the library is open would reduce from 18 hours per week to 11.5 hours per week.  There would be no internal changes to the building and the Broseley Town Council office would remain in its current location.

Both Councils have a strong commitment to working to promote equality, diversity and social inclusion and the potential impact of the preferred proposal on library users, particularly those who might be impacted by any change, is being assessed through the completion of an equality and social inclusion impact assessment.

A set of frequently asked questions has been produced to help you understand the background and context for the proposals.

Together with Broseley Town Council, we are now seeking responses to the proposals outlined here - namely the transfer of the responsibility for the management of the library, customer service point and the library car park to Broseley Town Council.

These proposals are detailed in the consultation document linked to this page.

We want to stress that no formal decision has yet been made and that there is an opportunity for alternative proposals to be made (as long as they can be delivered for the same, or a lower budget than the proposals detailed).  The information we receive through the consultation will be used to inform any decision made on the future delivery of the library service, the Customer Service Point and the management of the library building and library car park.

The results of the consultation will be collated, analysed and considered by both councils and used to inform a decision on the future delivery of these services.

To take part, please read through the proposals first, and then complete our short survey which you can access by clicking on the "How to get involved" tab at the top of the page.

Broseley Town Council

Broseley Town Council is currently housed at Unit 6, The Instones Building in Broseley and is the first tier of local government for the area.

Broseley Library, Customer Service Point and Car Park

Option One

Management of the library, customer service point and library car park by Broseley Town Council (Shropshire Council and Broseley Town Council's preferred option)

The day to day running of Broseley Library and Customer Service Point will be transferred from Shropshire Council to Broseley Town Council, who will run the services under an initial three-year service level agreement, with the intention to extend this agreement in the future.

The library and Customer Service Point will remain in its existing location in the Old School building in Bridgnorth Road and maintain the existing opening hours. The existing library staff will be transferred to Broseley Town Council who will provide the same range of library and customer service point services currently available to users of the library with the support of Shropshire Council library staff.

Alongside the management of the library and customer service point services the management of the Library building and the library public car park will also transfer to Broseley Town Council.

Some alterations to the Library building will be made to incorporate new office space for the Town Council.

Anticipated saving to Shropshire Council = £6,800

Anticipated saving to Broseley Town Council = £1,700

Option Two

Library, Customer Service Point and car park remains under Shropshire Council management with reduced staffing hours

Broseley Library will continue to be run by Shropshire Council's library service with the hours that the library is staffed reduced from the current 18 hours per week to 11.5 hours per week. 

Existing dedicated Customer Service Point provision will be withdrawn.  However, as with option 1 support for local residents to access Shropshire Council services will be provided via a freephone facility and a dedicated public computer. The library staff will also be on hand for anyone who needs help. 

The ongoing management of the library car park would remain the full responsibility of Shropshire Council.

There would be no internal changes to the building and the Broseley Town Council office would remain in its current location.

Within this option there is a recognition that further financial pressure may come on library, customer service point and car parking services and that the ongoing review of provision will be necessary.

Anticipated saving to Shropshire Council = £6,800

Anticipated saving to Broseley Town Council = Zero