Agenda item

Main Grants Programme 2016-17

Crime Enforcement and Regulatory Services

Library Savings Programme Update

DBS Checks for Library Staff

Lewisham Met Police Services Update

3.1       James Lee, Head of Service, Culture and Community Development, introduced the response to the Committee’s referral on the Main Grants Programme, in the discussion that followed, the following key points were raised:

·         The process for monitoring the use of assets by the voluntary and community sector has been agreed and the report presented to the Committee was the first step in providing this information.

·         More information could be provided to the committee on the process undertaken to calculate the market value of rent and in-kind offers to voluntary and community groups.

·         Work had been undertaken on “meanwhile” use - the use of a temporarily vacant site for improving the local economy or promoting community cohesion through pop-up shops etc. The Council was bidding for external funding to support  vibrant community based usage where possible.

3.2       Antonio Rizzo, Head of Library and Information Service, introduced the responses to the Committee’s referral on the Library Savings Programme Update. In the discussion that followed the following key points were raised:

·         New computers for libraries were configured and were ready to be installed. There would be a switch to the new infrastructure at the beginning of December.

·         Filtering software had been installed to ensure that only appropriate sites were accessible, however there were on-going discussions particularly at hub libraries to ensure that the software was appropriate and not needlessly prohibiting access to legitimate sites for example on sexual health.

3.3       Antonio Rizzo, Head of Library and Information Service, introduced the responses to the Committee’s referral on DBS checks for library staff. In the discussion that followed the following key points were raised:

·         The Council’s HR department had confirmed that although children used libraries regularly, it would not be appropriate for library staff to have the enhanced DBS check routinely as they were not required to be on their own with children.

·         A basic disclosure check would be possible but would only show any current convictions. This approach had been endorsed by Mayor and Cabinet and the Library Service hoped to conclude the DBS of frontline staff by the end of the 2016/17 municipal year.

·         The possibility of robust risk assessments being carried out was raised to ensure that where there was a risk of staff being unsupervised with children, enhanced DBS checks were always carried out.

3.4       RESOLVED:

That the responses to referrals be agreed.