Freedom of information response

1. How many library service points did you have by the end of 2016 (calendar year)? Do you have a list of addresses for those at all? Please detail mobile libraries separately to buildings.

10 Service points

Aveley Library                                                       High Road, Aveley

Belhus Library within South Ockendon Centre     Derry Avenue, South Ockendon RM15 5DX

Blackshots Library                                                Blackshots Lane, Grays RM16 2JU

Chadwell Information Centre                                Brentwood Road, Chadwell St Mary, Grays RM16 4JP

Corringham Library                                              St Johns Way, Corringham SS17 7LJ

Grays Central Library                                            Thameside Complex, Orsett Road Grays RM17 5DX

East Tilbury Library                                                  Princess Avenue, East Tilbury RM18 8ST

Purfleet Library within Purfleet Hub                         53-54 River Court Centurion Way, Purfleet on Thames

Stanford-le-Hope Library                                         High Street Stanford le Hope SS17 0HG

Tilbury Library within Tilbury Hub                            Civic Square Tilbury RM18 8AD

No mobile libraries

2. How many library service points did you have by the end of 2023 (calendar year)? Please provide the addresses and detail mobile libraries separately to buildings.

10 Service Points

Aveley Library                                                   Recreation Ground, High Street Aveley RM15 4BY

Belhus Library within South Ockendon Centre Derry Avenue, South Ockendon RM15 5DX

Blackshots Library                                            Blackshots Lane, Grays RM16 2JU

Chadwell Information Centre                             Brentwood Road, Chadwell St Mary, Grays RM16 4JP

Corringham Library                                           St Johns Way, Corringham SS17 7LJ

Grays Central Library                                        Thameside Complex, Orsett Road Grays RM17 5DX

East Tilbury Library  and Hub                            Princess Avenue, East Tilbury RM18 8ST

Purfleet Library within Purfleet Hub                   53-54 River Court Centurion Way, Purfleet on Thames

Stanford-le-Hope Library                                   High Street Stanford le Hope SS17 0HG

Tilbury Library within Tilbury Hub                      Civic Square Tilbury RM18 8AD

No mobile libraries

3. Of those, which have had their opening hours reduced since 2016? And can you outline any changes please?

East Tilbury Library reduced from 15 hrs to 11 hrs per week due to an arson attack on building in Jan 2017 effectively closing it. Less available hours in its move to temporary accommodation in the local village hall. Returning to 15 hours in 2019 when moved back into refurbished building on same site as previous library.

During the COVID period (mid March 2020-June 2021) all libraries had reduced/changed opening hours.

Before COVID in February 2020 standard opening hours were:

Aveley: 15 hrs per week

Belhus: 38 hrs per week

Blackshots: 27 hrs per week

Chadwell: 27 hrs per week

Corringham: 38 hrs per week

East Tilbury:15 hrs per week

Grays: 48 hrs per week

Purfleet on Thames: 15 hrs per week

Stanford le Hope: 15 hrs per week

Tilbury: 21 hrs per week

April-June 2002 – 0 hours (no libraries open due to Government restrictions)

July-August  2020 – 7 libraries remain closed. 3 libraries re-opened again: Belhus Library reduction of 5 hours per week to 33 hrs from pre-Covid 38 hrs. Corringham Library reduction of 5 hours per week to 33 hrs from pre-Covid 38 hrs. Grays Library reduction of 15 hrs per week to 33 hrs per week from pre-Covid 48 hrs per week.

September 2020-November 2020  - 8 libraries now open. 2 libraries remain closed: Stanford le Hope Library and Purfleet on Thames Community Hub (due to staffing/volunteer capacity)

December 2020-February 2021 – All libraries closed due to Government restrictions.

March 2021 – 8 libraries re-open but not as previous full opening hours. 2 libraries remain closed: Stanford Le Hope and Purfleet on Thames Community Hub (due to staffing/volunteer capacity)

Library opening hours changed to:

Aveley:14 hrs per week

Belhus: 17 hrs per week

Blackshots: 12 hrs per week

Chadwell: 14 hrs per week

Corringham: 17 hrs per week

East Tilbury: 15 hrs per week

Grays: 20 hrs per week

Tilbury: 14 hrs per week

April 2021 – Tilbury reduced from 14 hrs to 12 hrs per week

From 1 July 2021 opening hours were:

Aveley: 18 hrs per week

Belhus: 38 hrs per week

Blackshots: 21 hrs per week

Chadwell: 27 hrs per week

Corringham: 33 hrs per week***

East Tilbury:15 hrs per week

Grays: 48 hrs per week

Purfleet on Thames: 0 hrs per week**

Stanford le Hope: 0 hrs per week*

Tilbury: 18 hrs per week

*Stanford le Hope re-opened August 2021 for 6 hrs per week. Reduced hours from pre-COVID levels due to staffing issues

**Purfleet on Thames Hub reopened in 2022 with 14 hrs per week

***Corringham library increased back to 37 hrs per week in 2022 (with a self-service day)

In 2022 Tilbury decreased hours back to 12 hrs per week (self service opening ceased with partner organisation).

4. How many of these libraries have been transferred from council control to the control of volunteers since 2016?

None. Purfleet Community Hub is still within Council control but is run by volunteers and overseen by a member of the Council

5. Please tell us how many libraries have moved premises since 2016 and provide the former and current address.

2 libraries moved premises:

Aveley Library                              High Road, Aveley

Aveley Community Hub                Recreation Ground, High Street Aveley RM15 4BY

East Tilbury Library                      Princess Avenue, East Tilbury RM18 8ST

East Tilbury Library (Temp)          East Tilbury Village Hall, Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, RM18 8RB

East Tilbury Hub and Library        Princess Avenue, East Tilbury RM18 8ST

6. Please tell us how many new libraries have opened since 2016 (not existing libraries moving to different buildings) and provide addresses.

1 since 2016

Purfleet on Thames Community Hub   53-54 River Court Centurion Way, Purfleet on Thames

7. How many library service points are proposed for closure within the next year? Please detail any mobile libraries separately to buildings.

No libraries proposed for closure at the moment.

8. How many members of staff worked for your libraries’ service by the end of 2016 calendar year (headcount please, not FTE)? And how many members of staff work for your libraries’ service by the end of 2023 calendar year (headcount please, not FTE)?

2016: 55 (18 are Peak Reliefs and includes 6 duplicates)

2023: 52 (16 are Peak Reliefs and includes 5 duplicates)

9. How many library service points were operated by volunteers by the end of 2016 calendar year? And how many library service points are operated by volunteers by the end of 2023 calendar? Please detail any mobile libraries separately to buildings.

1 by end of 2016* (overseen by Council staff) Purfleet-on-Thames Community Hub

1 by end of 2023* (overseen by Council Staff) Purfleet-on-Thames Community Hub

10. The net spend on library services each year in the period 2016 to 2024.

2016-17: No data due to different system

2017-18 No data due to different system

2018-19: £1,163,079

2019-20: £1.191,231

2020-21: £1,200,196

2021-22: £1,145,588

2022-23: £1,290,570

2023-2024: (Feb) £1,157,585

11. How many books have been classed as Lost, Stolen or Missing per annum since 2016? Please also provide figures for the financial cost.

Lost: Items marked as lost between 21/04/2021 and 29/02/2024: 16,204 items.

Items marked as lost between 01/04/2023 and 29/02/2024: 364 items, with a value of £3,406.06.

We are unable to go beyond 21/04/2021 due to the Library Management System changing. Financials are also unavailable.

Missing:

Items marked as missing between 01/04/2023 and 29/02/2024: 309 items, with a value of £2,596.36.