The Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Worcestershire Council met on Tuesday 29 September 2026 to discuss the Libraries Annual Update and Quarterly Performance and In-Year Budget Monitoring. Key discussions included the refreshed Library Strategy 2026-2028, the impact of the Libraries Unlocked initiative, and the financial performance of the council, which indicated an £8 million overspend.

Libraries Annual Update

The panel received an update on Worcestershire's library services, including the refreshed Library Strategy 2026-2028, which aims to grow the physical library audience, strengthen partnerships, and support community well-being. The Libraries Unlocked initiative, now live in eleven locations, has increased opening hours by 59% and is proving popular with working-age people and those over 75, though further work is needed to engage younger age groups. The service offer has been enhanced to support council priorities around school readiness, attainment, community connection, and well-being, with new initiatives including a mobile library outreach service and school auto-enrolment pilots.

Discussions also touched upon the significant budget allocated to The Hive, Worcestershire's central library and integrated university library, with officers highlighting its unique model, national significance, and role in attracting funding and piloting services. Concerns were raised about the PFI costs associated with The Hive, with clarification provided that the PFI agreement runs until January 2037. The panel also discussed the importance of advertising library services beyond books to attract a wider audience, particularly younger people, and the role of councillors in promoting these services through their networks.

Quarterly Performance and In-Year Budget Monitoring

The panel reviewed the quarterly performance and budget monitoring reports. Dave Corbett, Head of Registration and Coroner's Service, presented data showing that death registrations within five days were at 90.4% for the quarter, exceeding national averages. However, sickness absence figures for the first quarter were the highest for an April-to-June period in ten years, though long-term sickness days had decreased. Staff turnover was at its lowest for a first quarter in five years, and agency staff costs as a percentage of the total pay bill had fallen to 4%.

Library visits were down 2.2% compared to the same period last year, potentially due to a trend of reduced visit frequency and increased digital borrowing. However, overall library issues, including digital resources, were up, and active library users had increased. The County Museum saw a significant increase in visits in August, and countryside site standards were met at 89%. Bikeability training for children also showed positive trends, with improvements in Level 2 training and strong uptake in other levels.

Steph Simcox, Head of Finance, presented the council's financial position, highlighting an £8 million forecast overspend for the year, primarily driven by pressures in adult and children's social care. The council's contingency fund had been fully utilised by the end of the first quarter. The report detailed the council's reliance on Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from the government, which is permission to borrow rather than additional funding. The panel discussed the significant deficit in the high needs block for schools and the implications of the statutory override ending in March 2028, which could leave the council with a £40 million deficit. The council's revenue debt older than 30 days stood at £28.5 million, though this represented a decrease compared to the previous year. Forecast reserves were predicted to stand at £9.4 million by the end of the financial year, with concerns raised about the adequacy of this amount.

Work Programme

The panel reviewed its work programme for the upcoming meetings. It was agreed to move the Performance of Comments, Compliments and Complaints item from the January meeting to the December meeting, assuming there would be no significant update on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) to report. Councillor Malcolm Victory raised the possibility of bringing forward the Update on Artificial Intelligence item to the May meeting due to its potential impact.