Lincolnshire’s libraries could be outsourced

Following an approach from a not-for-profit organisation, bids could be invited for the running of local library services.

During recent consultation on the future of local libraries, the council received an expression of interest from Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), a charitable social enterprise.

This has now been reviewed against the criteria in the authority’s Community Right to Challenge scheme, which allows certain groups to ask to become involved in assisting with or delivering services.

Officers have recommended that the Executive Member for Libraries, Coun Nick Worth, formally accepts GLL’s expression as having met the criteria.

Tony McGinty from the Community Right to Challenge Panel said: “If the panel’s recommendation is approved and GLL’s expression of interest is accepted as valid, the council will need to carry out a procurement exercise, which will probably lead to library services being put out to tender.

“However, before that happens, the council’s executive would still need to consider what kind of shape future library services should take. We expect that to happen in February 2015.

“This will not necessarily be the type of model that would be favoured by GLL, and it would need to take into account the feedback received during consultation.

“Only after that discussion has happened would we invite people to put forward their bids.

“Because of the work involved in a tender process, it is likely to be at least a year before a final decision is reached.”

Coun Worth will take the decision on GLL’s expression of interest on 3 December.