1. Collaboration and Regeneration: the Caerphilly Borough experience Gareth Evans Interim Manager Community Education CCBC Joint Library Seminar with WLGA, Caerphilly County Borough Council & CyMAL Caerphilly Library 13 th February 2014 13

2. Context – virtual foundation stones 10 Year Library Plan adopted by full Council in November 2003 A tiering model for future Public Library development laid the ingredients for investment in buildings and services in the subsequent years based on: Population size served Deprivation, social need, and proximity to other sites considered Use and potential future growth part of the overall picture Mapped to Standards for minimum floor area requirements Matched aspirations of service need, regeneration/town centre development plans, and co-location with other Council Services and voluntary/third sector groups where mutually desirable Larger facilities needed to be in town centre/retail locations Guidelines for stock, IT, and other services captured Plan has offered strategic road map to assist in accessing Welsh Government grants and for the Authority to consider significant investment in new or enhanced facilities as the opportunities presented themselves

3. Case study 1 – Bargoed Hanbury Chapel - Oct 2011 Key Facts and Figures 1147m 2 of circulation space, 747m 2 of Library space Dedicated areas for adults, children, young people, learning/family history centre 25,000-30,000 items of stock IT provision and WiFi Usage (164,000 visits in first year open this has risen to 174,000 for the last completed financial year /49,000 loans in first year open a 95% uplift on last year prior to relocation / 31,000 hours of computer use since Chapel opened its doors) Regeneration Dimension Part of £25million regeneration of Bargoed Former Library demolished as part of wider scheme and new Supermarket Retention and redevelopment of an important local building and 2*star listed Chapel Social Enterprise Café Chapel site and mix of services, including Customer Service Centre with Cash Office, seen as valuable anchor tenant on main shopping street Costs & Grant support £280k CyMAL Welsh Government grant £3.4 Million to spend United Welsh Housing Association who own the building and oversaw the restoration and extension of the facility – accessed some £1.4 million in grant aid via the Heads of the Valleys initiative, and £100k via CADW toward specific restoration elements 35 Year lease in place between the Council and United Welsh Housing Association Fit within Library Strategy and Future Plans Identified as ‘Hub’ facility in Service tiering model Co-location and Shared Services Joint provision with Customer Service Centre Social Enterprise Café Retained practising worshipping area for Chapel congregation Collaborative grant bid process with UWHA who own the facility Office for area Communities First team

4. Case study 2 – Risca Palace Cinema - Dec 2011 Key Facts and Figures 689m 2 of Library circulation space (doubling of public area) Delivery over 2 distinct floors Customer Service Centre - joint reception desk and shared use of space Dedicated areas for adults, children, young people, learning, and built in cinema style screen/projector and speakers 15,000 to 20,000 stock IT provision and WiFi throughout (double former sites provision) Usage (121,000 visits in first year open – double the equivalent activity in the former site, last full year saw 129,000 visits to the Palace / 78,000 loans in first full year open a 20% increase on the last year at the former Library site /24,918 hours of computer use on site since the new facility opened, a doubling in the first year) Regeneration Dimension Linked to Risca town centre regeneration plans Site shares premises with One stop convenience store as part of overall rental package with building owner Key town centre location on main pedestrian/general retail area Restored frontage to derelict listed Palace Cinema – site empty for 3 decades brought back into vibrant use with retained iconic façade Costs & Grant support £155k CyMAL Welsh Government Grant £2.25 Million spend in total Private development delivered on an open book basis 25 year rental agreement with between Council and site owner Fit within Library Strategy and Future Plans Designated area for a Hub Library (2 nd tier level) requiring a town centre location, retail look and feel, and improved floor area sited with co-located Council service(s). Co-location and Shared Services Joint provision with Customer Service Centre Community Learning and Basic Skills space located within 1 st floor study suite Site for Town Council Clerk office

5. Case study 3 – Abercarn Library - May 2012 Key Facts and Figures 170m 2 of circulation space, 1/3 rd bigger than former site Dedicated areas for adults, children, young people, learning 8,000-10,000 items of stock IT provision and WiFi – 1/3 rd more provision than former site Usage (21631 visits in first full year open 4 times higher than the last equivalent period in the previous site / loaned 23756 items in first full year open an increase of 60% on previous period /Five times higher IT usage since Library reopened at new site) Regeneration Dimension Library forms key part of two stage social housing project in the village between Seren Housing Group and Carn Limited the building developer Phase 2 – which includes the ground floor Library incorporates 10 older person flats, funded with Welsh Government Housing grant monies – developer provided Library free of charge as part of total scheme Facility includes a community run ‘tea point’ operated by local volunteers that functions during Library opening hours Costs & Grant support £40k to cover ‘loose’ fit out identified in end of year underspend that was approved for use on this scheme Build at no cost to the Council – Library element of construction cost £280k Overall scheme including 10 older persons flats was £1million Seren Housing Group provides Library area for a pepper corn rent to the Council on basis that the land involved has been allocated to the Housing Group for social housing via a Flying freehold – 999 year style rental arrangement Fit within Library Strategy and Future Plans Categorised as a ‘Joint use / Community’ facility in the Service tiering scheme for Library development Co-location and Shared Services Social Enterprise / Community Café Scheme delivered as part of social housing initiative with the Council’s Housing section and a number of external partners (Seren Group and Carn Limited)

6. Case study 4 – Aberbargoed Library and Resource Centre - May 2013 Key Facts and Figures Library initially closed in March 2012 and reopened with a joint Early Years Resource facility in May 2013 48m 2 of circulation space Communal areas for adults, children, young people, and IT facilities 2,500 – 5,000 items of stock Self Service kiosk introduced alongside single staffing at site with an allocation for seasonal dual staffing where required IT provision maintained Flying Start Health Visitors Office Toddler play area and storage space at rear of building to support early years activities on site as part Resource Centre role Usage (71% increase in visits to the reopened facility since May 2013 / book borrowing has declined by 44% / Computer use has increase by 54% compared to equivalent period in 2011-12 when the library was previously open) Regeneration Dimension Considered part of re-instatement of local services to Aberbargoed community Joint funding of renewal of site, refurbishment and adaptation for Library and Early years use with grant monies via Flying Start programme Retention of 25 hour per week opening Costs & Grant support £90k to refurbish and adapt for dual usage £45k contribution from Flying Start Revenue costs to employ Library Manager to oversee the site identified in Directorate budget savings Fit within Library Strategy and Future Plans Designated as a Community ‘drop off’ area within tiering model due to resident population size Co-location and Shared Services Co-location with Flying Start Health Visitor team and other Early Years workers

7. Case study 5 – Newbridge Institute (Memo) - June 2013 Key Facts and Figures 237m 2 of Library circulation space Double the public space provided at the former site Customer Service ‘Cash Office’ presence shares Library reception desk By co-locating with the Cash Office the Library opening times have been increased from 21 to 30 hours per week Dedicated areas for adults, children, young people, learning 10,000 - 15,000 stock IT provision and WiFi throughout (double former sites level) Usage (Visits are up 118% in the first 6 months open / 13% increase in borrowing / 116% uplift in computer usage during first 6 months open) Regeneration Dimension Linked to town centre regeneration scheme for Newbridge Supporting viability of the Newbridge Memo restoration and providing ongoing revenue stream through rental of the Library area over 25 years Site shares premises with town Cash Office creating potential for capital receipts for the former Council sites involved Town centre location for Newbridge Library which is designated as a ‘town’ facility in the Authorities tiering system Restored listed Workmen’s Institute, phase 2 will see restoration of 2* listed Memorial Hall – scheduled for completion summer 2014 Costs & Grant support £170k of Capital funding set aside by the Council to fit out the Library area £1.9 Million scheme - phase 1, when Memo is completed the total costs including grants will be circa £5 million Fit within Library Strategy and Future Plans Designated area for a ‘Town’ Library (3 nd tier level) that required a town centre location, retail look and feel, and improved floor area Co-location and Shared Services Joint provision with Customer Service ‘Cash Office’ Shared use of Institute wing with Memo trustees and other service users

8. Case study 6 – Caerphilly Library and Customer Service Centre - Jan 2014 Key Facts and Figures 1120m 2 of Library circulation space Delivery over 3 distinct floors Customer Service Centre and Museum Area Dedicated areas for adults, children, young people, learning, Community meeting space, and Museums area 45,000 to 65,000 stock levels IT provision and WiFi throughout – doubling of Public IT facilities with in excess of 40 Internet Terminals and 100 MB data link to the site Usage (Early days – first month transactions across all areas are up by double or more on the same period in 2013) Regeneration Dimension Part of more general regeneration of Caerphilly – plans for a new Library have formed important elements of previous failed town centre proposals on Pentrebane Street and Park Lane Costs & Grant support £200k CyMAL Welsh Government grant £5.4 million pound initiative (including land purchase) Council funding the scheme via prudential borrowing Fit within Library Strategy and Future Plans Designated area for a ‘Portal ‘Library (1 st tier level) must have a strong town centre location, retail look and feel, and improved floor area sited with co-located Council service(s). Co-location and Shared Services Joint provision with Customer Service Centre Council’s Museum Service provide and support a small Museum Space Community Learning colleagues extensively use the sites two Seminar rooms for adult education delivery and key skill development for the areas residents

9. Key Lessons The Library Service has been served well by having a plan for site/community development that has complemented the Authority’s regeneration commitments and other priority areas (Social Housing) The Council as a whole has been signed up to Library improvement and development under a number of different administrations Accessing funding via grants and through capital and revenue growth takes time but is central to delivering meaningful regeneration outcomes and facilities of scale and aspiration that engage the public The future delivery and re-shaping of the Library offer will remain closely linked to its tiering approach to service development and how best to support residents to access fair and equitable provision (linked to population, deprivation, proximity, demographics, usage, and Standards)

10. Gareth Evans Interim Manager Community Education CCBC 01443 864033 Email: evansg1@caerphilly.gov.uk Joint Library Seminar with WLGA, Caerphilly County Borough Council & CyMAL Caerphilly Library 13 th February 2014 13