Issue - meetings

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Basu, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Lifelong Learning.

The Committee received written responses to the advanced questions raised (tabled) and the Leader, Councillor Claire Kober, attended the meeting with Diana Edmonds (Assistant Director of Culture, Libraries and Learning) and John Morris (Assistant Director of Recreation Services) to answer further questions.

The Committee congratulated officers on the library targets and noted that it was not possible to get more specific data on different user groups without asking probing questions, which could deter people from engaging with library services.  The Committee noted that 90% of courses booked with libraries were taken up. In response to questions about what services were provided for young people officers explained that Haringey had a younger profile of library users than other boroughs and services included activities, the toy library and homework clubs.  Hornsey Library was a popular place with teenagers during exam periods.

In response to comments and questions by the Committee, officers explained that Haringey met the national standard of having a library within a mile of every resident and recognised that forums to engage with library users were not working in their current format, despite being highly advertised.  Other methods of user engagement were used, such as the 60 second snapshots interviews of 3 customers each month and the annual user survey.

The Committee were informed that the Parks and Leisure Services used agency staff on a planned basis through the Council’s contract with Hays and explained that this was an effective way of filling seasonal vacancies.

Officers were asked to provide a briefing note on the milestones and those reached so far during the development of the Cultural Strategy.

The Chair highlighted the good work of the Service to improve and increase allotment spaces in the Borough.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member briefing and responses to questions be noted.