Response to Cheshire East Library Consultation
Published: 13 September 2024
Response to library consultation
Strategy objectives
The Town Council broadly supports the strategic objectives to maintain the service offer for all and working in partnership with local councils. The co-location of the library and Town Council in the Civic Centre offers excellent opportunities to allow the Town Council and library to work together to not only maintain the current service but to provide complimentary services. As a Connected Community, the Civic Hall already offers services focussed on health and wellbeing which the library would not be able to offer because of a lack of space. The Town Council was surprised to learn that CEC are planning to undertake building works to add a new clinician’s room to the library when there are potentially rooms available in the Civic Hall and an agreement could have potentially reached to adapt and make use of an available room.
The Town Council has a Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator who has a focus on health and wellbeing. We are also a key stakeholder of Bollington, Disley and Poynton’s Care Community so would welcome early discussions on working together with a view to looking at how we can best support local health and wellbeing priorities and offering enhanced services to the community.
The Tier System
The Town Council is extremely concerned as to how the site assessment matrix has been used to score sites, the same flawed methodology was used during the draft proposals for the Leisure Centre and which was criticised by some members of the Environment and Communities Committee. The site assessment matrix favours large sites. Visitors, issues and active memberships are not weighted based on the size of the community they serve, the sites are merely ranked as to size.
Looking at active numbers based on the 2021 census figures approximately 25% of Poynton residents are active members of the library this compares with 9.3% in Crewe, 15% in Congleton, 14% in Macclesfield, 30% in Nantwich and18% in Wilmslow. Congleton, Crewe, Macclesfield and Wilmslow all score a 10 but Poynton despite high usage figures only scores an 8 because the figures are not weighted for large and small populations. We would ask that the site assessment matrix is reviewed and that it is weighted more appropriately.
No information has been provided in relation to source date for digital inclusion or the majority of the health data so the figures set out in the matrix cannot be verified.
In relation to public health factors, no additional information as to how the scores have been calculated or evidence from source material referenced. It is unclear how these figures have been arrived at. Taking Older People as an example, Poynton has been allocated a score of 2, however, we are aware that Poynton has one of the oldest populations in Cheshire East. Looking at the 2021 tartan rug data for age and comparing it to the scores given in the matrix there appears to be significant discrepancies between population age and how sites have been scored. Please provide detailed explanations.
In order of oldest population - Population aged 65 and over (Tartan Rug)
| Town | Tartan Rug Score (average for all wards) | Site Assessment Score |
| Poynton | 30.1 | 2 |
| Knutsford | 26.8 | 2 |
| Congleton | 26.5 | 2 |
| Nantwich | 24.7 | 4 |
| Sandbach | 22.3 | 2 |
| Macclesfield | 21.7 | 3 |
| Wilmslow | 21.32 | 3 |
| Handforth | 20 | 3 |
| Middlewich | 19.1 | 2 |
| Crewe | 16.9 | 3 |
The Town Council is concerned that the site assessment matrix is flawed as it uses outdated data without reference so cannot be verified. We believe that the site assessment data does not use the correct metrics, that the weightings only favour larger libraries and that it does not assess the libraries fairly.
Assessment of Poynton Library as Tier 2
As a co-located library with the Town Council, in the Civic Hall the individual services in the building already provide additional services and support including CAB, counselling, health and wellbeing sessions, support groups, exercise and special interest classes. The site could with collaboration and joint working become a tier 1 location.
Tier 2 Opening Hours
Poynton library is currently closed on a Wednesday afternoon, from usage figures and anecdotal evidence closure for half day on a Wednesday was preferable to extending hours earlier in the mornings which were traditionally a quieter time. The Town Council would not support any additional reduction in hours. Thursday morning (Rhyme Time) and Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings which allow working residents to visit the library should be maintained.
Tier 2 – Ask of Town and Parish Council
The Town Council is aware that we are likely to be asked to contribute financially to support the library in the coming year. We are disappointed that despite the current consultation we have not been told what will be the “ask” of the Town Council and what this will support. We have had to respond to the consultation despite this lack of information. The Town Council believes that whist discussions and negotiations should form part of any strategy, it is concerning that the final library strategy will be based on a consultation where much of the information that Towns and Parishes need is not available before the consultation ends meaning that the decision made will not be informed or meaningful.
Towns and parishes will shortly begin budget setting, if financial commitments are required to support libraries it is essential that these are communicated as swiftly as possible so they can be factored into the financial decisions that councils will shortly have to make.
To make your own voice heard, please fill in the consultation here before the deadline on the 15th September.