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February 9, 2010
London Libraries Change Programme
David Ruse wrote on Lis Pub Libs;
List members may be interested to learn more about the London Libraries Change Programme, which is seeking to improve the quality and efficiency of public library services across London, and has the financial and policy support of the Capital Ambition Board - the regional improvement and efficiency partnership for London. This is a major change programme, which will not deliver overnight, but which is providing a framework for change and improvement across 33 very independent London boroughs, of varying politics, structures, systems and cultures. The following link will take you to fuller details of the programme, and in particular to Bulletin no. 5 which gives the latest position.
To which Andrew Wylie replied
Thanks to David Ruse for informing the list of the exsistence of the LLCP although list members might ask why it has taken nearly 3 years for this to happen? In the spirit of open and honest debate I would also like to bring to the attention of list members the following points:
Instead of tapping into the existing knowledge and expertise within the sector and taking on board some of the recommendations already outlined in the numerous reports/studies already done on the subject, the London Cultural Improvement Group, MLA London, Capital Ambitions and the LLCP Programme Board have spent £249,000, or more, on consultants.
The programme constantly talks of improving the delivery of services to meet customer needs but there has been no formal consultation with the public, front-line staff or the unions.
The 2008 'Feasability Study' states "Benmarking of workforce should be expected to identify areas for gains of between £1-£11m (1-10% of current workforce), I accept that this is based on the 2008 study but we have been denied access to the final version of the 'Workforce Benchmarking Study' seemingly it is not in the public domain.
We are all aware of the imminent public service budget cuts and the need for an improved and more efficient library service but how does the Programme Board envisage pushing these improvements through with less professional staff and in its own conclusion a lack of strong leadership?
And, as Alan has correctly pointed out all this is on top of the need for some kind of comprehensive consultation and research among the citizens of London, to whom this service belongs.
The first promise they make is 'To bring the level of service of the 33 boroughs up to that of the best' ... so what on earth have these people been doing in the past-- making them worse? And why do you need £300k of consultants to tell you to do that; not that anyone has yet defined what those standards are or when we might see some improvement.
If this is supposed to be a new level of communication my own question is - from whom do seek reassurance about the way this programme is managed- from the councillors of Westminster, where David is employed? or our own councillors? or whom?
Posted by Perkins at February 9, 2010 6:05 PM