HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

CULTURE CABINET PANEL

WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2008 AT 2.00 p.m.

LIBRARY STAFFING REVIEW

Report of the Director of Children, Schools & Families
Author: / Glenda Wood Tel: 01707 281559
Executive Member: / Keith Emsall
1. / Purpose of report
To inform the Panel of the changes to the Library Service staffing and structure implemented on 1 December 2007.
2. / Summary
Since April 2006, Libraries, Heritage Arts has been conducting a review of staffing structure of its library service which was badged under the name ‘Shaping the Future Together’. The scope of the review did not include either Hertfordshire Archives & Local studies (HALS) or the Hertfordshire Adult & Family Learning Service (HAFLS). The Schools Library Service (SLS) is being reviewed separately. The objectives of the review were to create a structure that best enabled the library service to:
w  Take advantage of the Libraries for the 21st Century (L421C) investment.
w  Provide value for money and efficiency savings.
w  Relate to the changing needs and expectations of customers
w  Take account of the national strategy for libraries as outlined in the Framework for the Future and the changing landscape of local government.
w  Reflect the HCC The Way We Work programme.
From the outset, the process was designed to be open and inclusive. There were two stages of staff consultation and this feedback was invaluable in the development of the final proposals which were published in May 2007. There followed a two month period of formal consultation that adhered to the HCC Protocol for Handling Organisational Change. The final structure was published in July; staff were appointed to the new posts between August and November and the new structure was implemented on 1 December 2007.
3. / Recommendations
The Panel are requested to note the report
4. / Background
Main features of the new library service structure
Required savings have been made from senior and middle management levels:
w  The number of senior managers in the Library Management Team has reduced from 6 to 5 full time equivalent posts (fte).
w  Administrative units remain coterminous with District boundaries but the number of Library Districts, each headed by a District Librarian, has reduced from 8 to 5. These are:
Dacorum & St Albans
East Herts & Broxbourne
Stevenage & North Herts
Watford & Three Rivers
Welwyn Hatfield & Hertsmere
w  The responsibilities of Development Librarians have changed to reflect changing service needs. The number of these posts has reduced from 8 to 6 fte.
w  The responsibilities of Librarians based in District Libraries have changed to reflect changing service needs. The number of these posts has reduced from 34 to 31 fte.
Additional Assistant Library Manager posts have been created to maintain service continuity in front line libraries.
The number of Library Manager and Library Assistant staff in front line libraries has not changed.
Overall there has been a reduction of 4.27 fte from a workforce of approximately 430 fte.
The work of the following Units has been refocused by developing new ways of working as well as some minor structural change:
w  Central Resources Library
w  Property & Operations
w  Technical Support Services
w  Mobile Service
w  Statistics & Survey Unit
As from 1 December, the name of the portfolio has changed from Libraries, Heritage & Arts (LHA) to Libraries, Culture & Lifelong Learning (LCL) to reflect the changing priorities of the service.
A revised structure chart is attached as Appendix 1

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Appendix 1 - LCL Senior Management

080402 library staff review 1