Nettleham Community Library

Because a community run library is better than no library at all!

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Who are we?

Quite simply we are plan B!

While we support libraries being still run by local councils, Lincolnshire County Council seem to be 'hell bent' on handing theirs over to be run by businesses or local community groups.

Plan A - putting pressure on councillors and the council is great, publicity is great, marching, protesting and public support is great! But what if plan A fails and they don't listen? There has to be a plan B.

We want libraries to stay open. We believe in free education and access for all (now I'm starting to sound like a politician), however, we also acknowledge the fact that the LCC needs to make cuts and unfortunately libraries are the easy target! We can't save all of lincolnshire's libraries that are under threat, but we can save our local library! After all, a community run library is better than no library at all.

The public consultation period is drawing to a close next week. But there is still a lot of work for us to be getting on with. The CIC needs to be registered by Companies House, we need to find people willing to become shareholders (and part with their money), sponsors/donors/patrons, we need our business plan writing up... and much more. If anyone would like to help please contact us: [email protected]

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Save Lincolnshire Libraries protest march.

It was great to see such a brilliant turn out! Lets hope 'they' listen to the voice of the people

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http://uk.sitestat.com/lincolnshire/lincolnshire/s?Home.residents.discover-libraries.libraries-consultation.library-information-packs.116508.articleDownload.51244&ns_type=pdf&ns_url=http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk//Download/51244

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What are we proposing? What is Nettleham Community Library C.I.C

A C.I.C will run the basic service of Nettleham Library whilst the council still owns all the assets, and for this reason the service would NEED to be run in the existing library building as no other suitable venues exist in the village that could provide adequate space, access or opening hours that the current building could offer.   A C.I.C is a Community Interest Company.

"A community interest company is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners."

In essence a CIC is a little like a charity only with more freedoms and less regulation, a CIC is designed to stand on its own two feet like any normal business rather than rely on the generosity of donations, which in times of economic hardship dry up and also when public interest has wained. 

The building would be leased from the LCC on a peppercorn rent which has yet to be discussed but this figure would be relatively small, a mere gesture amount as to build contracts for leasing. The business rates would also be reduced  by around 80% as the rates are reduced for charitable organisations and community organisations. The council has agreed on this.

The organisation would require the council's proposed maintenance figure of  £5167 per annum to help maintain the service. There are other forms of income and the expenses and revenues will be looked at in detail at a further date (when the LCC can provide more information).

The largest cost on the council's books is in fact staffing costs. Librarians are important, they are trained professionals who take pride in what they do. However, due to the small budget the CIC would only be able to entertain the possibility of retaining one trained librarian in a paid role on a part time basis (initially that is), with the rest of the time being staffed with volunteers, including the directors role which will also be voluntary. 

Because a CIC is indeed a company (and reports to companies house) it must have shareholders! Booo!! i hear you say! Well, the shares issued will be to residents of Nettleham and the local community, for a price (to raise initial capital) but with the agreement that shares will NOT receive dividends at the end of any year, all profits (if any) will be poured back into the company to be used in the following year. This way the CIC serves the whole community, it's for the benefit of all not just for it's shareholders.

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With reference to the library and mobile library site these will not be available for asset transfer, however, the Council will consider leasing the building to the community. The Council will be working with groups that have expressed an interest on the development of their business case – this will follow the current consultation period

Gary Porter - Network Manager East

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Building Plans of the Library from Mouchel.

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I can confirm with almost 100% certainty that you would be eligible for the 80% mandatory charity relief, CICs are not automatically eligible for this relief however there are situations where they can claim this, as with this one as it is being used for the benefit of the local community. This would leave the annual charge at £1,640.10 (using 2013/14 figures). To allow you to claim the relief we must be satisfied that the CIC is not managing the library on behalf of the County Council, that they are occupying it in their own right.

Tom Buckle - Recovery & NNDR/BID Officer

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What is the future of Nettleham Library?

Well many local residents have been deeply concerned over Lincolnshire County Council's plans to restructure their library service, which involves the closure of around 30 of the county's libraries. This has featured heavily in local news on radio, tv and in the papers, and has sparked a fury of campaigns and petitions to beg the councils to reconsider.

However, the council has already made up their minds on the matter and have asked residents to come up with feasible solutions to keep their local libraries open and for them to run it themselves.

A detailed business plan must be submitted to the council by the end of the year, for many communities this is quite a daunting task.  However the residents of Nettleham are passionate enough and have the resources to put forward a plan to the council to run their own library... this is where Nettleham Community Library comes into play! Is this all part of David Cameron's Big Society? Slowly handing over former state run services to the public to deal with for themselves? Who knows!