To agree future delivery options for museum, library and archive services taking into consideration the results of a soft market test for the management of the services, capital works required for Hereford Library, next phase of delivery for the services and the review of the museum services conducted as part of the Resilient funding from Heritage Lottery.

A number of reviews, cabinet and cabinet member decisions over the last five years have set the direction of delivery based on retaining services important to the public, meeting changing customer needs, self-funding where possible and creating efficiencies.

This report therefore, makes recommendations based on sustaining services whilst considering their future operation and longer term delivery.

In summary the recommendations if agreed would:

§  Provide further investment in Hereford Library making the most of the site for community benefit;

§  Provide commitment to keeping facilities open and services operating;

§  Explore the commissioning of services as a way of maintaining current standards and aiming for improvement;

§  Support services to be more self-sustaining through income generation.