Agenda item

Development of the library at Broadmarsh

IL asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:

In light of the large financial pressures the City Council is currently facing, could the Portfolio Holder confirm that the provision of the new Central Library at Broadmarsh is continuing uninterrupted and provide an update on progress towards the library's opening?

Councillor David Mellen replied as follows:

Thank you Lord Mayor and I would like to thank the citizen for the question submitted regarding the provision of the new Central Library as part of the Broadmarsh development.  Firstly, I want to recognise the important roles that libraries play in many of our communities.  Access to quality local library provision makes a massive difference to many people’s lives and their future life chances.  I am proud of the continued commitment we have been able to make over the last decade to improve library provision in Nottingham.  This has included new library provision as part of the joint service centres in Bulwell, St Anns and Hyson Green, and more recently we have opened replacement facilities in Strelley Road and the Dales.  As well as this we have refurbished many libraries across the City, including those in Clifton and Bilborough, and soon the work will commence to build a replacement library in Sherwood.  This development has been brought about by working in a unique way with the developer of housing nearby, providing a new library at no extra cost to the Council. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank our library staff who, during the Covid pandemic, have provided access for people to collect books, gain access to computers and provided a wide range of activities and events online, introduced new ‘click and collect’ services and carried on supporting home delivery services to many of our housebound residents.  Similarly, many staff have also been redeployed and supporting other Council support services.  This has included becoming core teams for the Customer Services Team, to help support some of our most vulnerable and isolated citizens; supporting the Coroner’s Office by processing paperwork; and the Business Grant Support Teams, helping them process essential grants which have been a lifeline for many businesses.  In addition, a large number of staff also put themselves forward to be on the frontline, staffing the City’s first asymptomatic testing centre at Djanogly Leisure Centre.  This is often unsung work but important to recognise.  I also want to take this opportunity to thank Councillor Trimble for his contributions over many years.  No one has done more to promote, develop and deliver improvements in our libraries, parks and open spaces throughout the years.  His legacy will be enjoyed not only in the vibrant new Central Library but also in the green spaces he cares so much about and, of course, the redeveloped Castle which, due to his dedication, we will all start to enjoy later this year.  Thank you Councillor Trimble for all your work throughout almost 20 years on the Council’s Executive. 

The delivery of a new Central Library remains a key priority for the Council and its development remains part of the City Council’s Capital Programme moving forwards.  As Leader of the Council, delivering on this commitment to the people of Nottingham is a priority and one that we are committed to achieving.  A new building for the library is already there as part of the complex which will also house the car park and the new bus station, reopening later this year.  Like many other local authorities, Nottingham City Council continues to face a challenging financial situation.  Establishing stable finances is a priority for us, so there will be a delay to our original intention to complete the fit-out of the new Central Library that we had first hoped to do by December 2021.  We now hope that, following the successful sale of the Angel Row site, we should be able to start the fit-out of the new Central Library in the summer, aiming to complete the work next year.  I appreciate that this has meant that the Central Library facility has been closed for longer than was first expected, which I know is an inconvenience.  In order to minimise this disruption we have sought to provide ongoing access to the Central Library resources via the Service’s Reservation Service, we have relocated a number of Central Library based services and stocks to other community libraries and, only this week, a brand new website has been launched that contains a lot of access to many library resources online. 

I am very excited about the designs that I have seen for the new Central Library, housing a great library space for children, and the many positive feedback comments received when these were shared with the public were positive endorsements of the direction of travel.  I can’t wait to see the new Central Library open and I know that this will be a valuable additional amenity for the City as a whole and for many future generations of children in particular.