Purpose

To seek the Cabinet Member’s approval to accept two grants.
 

Decision

The Cabinet Member:

1) approved acceptance of a grant of £0.440m from Arts Council England under the Libraries Improvement Fund (Round 4); and

2) approved acceptance of a grant of £0.005m from The Reading Agency under the National Year of Reading funding stream. 

Reasons for the decision

The offers of funding would enable the Council to make improvements to Alfreton, Ilkeston and Long Eaton libraries, in line with the agreed Library Strategy, and to deliver an enhanced series of reading-based activities and events as part of the National Year of Reading.

All relevant information, which could impact on the decision, was considered and included in the report. 

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Do nothing - Should this option be taken, it would mean that the Council would be unable to accept the grant funding and the improvements to the facilities at Alfreton, Ilkeston and Long Eaton libraries, and enhanced reading-based events would not take place. This option was not recommended.