Consultation on mobile library plans

Derbyshire County Council has launched a second stage of consultation about the service, as part of a drive to cut £157 million from their budget over the next five years.

The council currently has two large maximum capacity vehicles (MCVs) and eight smaller standard mobile libraries and the service costs the authority £720,000 a year to run.

Thousands of residents took part in the first stage of the consultation earlier in the year, giving their feedback on a range of options including to stop the service completely, withdraw some mobile vehicles or to encourage community groups to provide the service.

Feedback has now been used to develop a more detailed second stage of consultation which outlines a plan to maintain two standard mobile libraries working to a monthly timetable.

Cllr Dave Allen, cabinet member for health and communities, said: “The option to keep two vehicles received the greatest support and many respondents said they’d rather see the frequency of the service reduced than not have one at all.

“We’ve taken these comments on board to develop the second stage of our consultation with a proposal which would make a significant saving while still operating two vehicles on a monthly timetable.

“But I need to stress all options remain open and we’re keen to hear a full range of responses and fresh ideas.”

Out of 383 communities currently visited, the proposal developed from the initial feedback would allow at least 140 of them to continue receiving the service.

Questionnaires are available in all county council branch and mobile libraries and GP surgeries, or online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/mobilelibraries.