Six local organisations have been invited to submit in-depth plans of services they want to run from council buildings.  

In March, Derby City Council launched a formal process to identify viable proposals for ten council buildings currently used solely as community libraries.

A number of submissions were received covering a range of ideas, from a specific service in one location to plans to run them from all ten buildings.

In the first stage, organisations needed to show they have the knowledge, experience, and resources or support to manage one or more buildings to deliver a range of services. Representatives from interested local groups attended a special event to learn more about the application process in April.

Now six have been invited to provide a detailed business plan to support their initial suggestions.

The Council is seeking proposals which:  

  • meet the needs of the local community 
  • could continue to deliver library services in the building
  • could deliver a range of community, public and potentially private sector services 
  • offer added value to local community, surrounding locality and attract new users  
  • improve the facilities to ensure their future viability.  

The closing date for second stage submissions is 12 noon, Monday 17 July.

Responses will then be evaluated by a panel of council officers to identify preferred bidders, with new management arrangements due to be put in place during autumn 2023.

Councillor Baggy Shanker, Leader of Derby City Council said:

The response to the first stage of the formal Expression of Interest process has been very positive and we are delighted to have received a wide range of very interesting proposals.

It’s clear that Derby has wonderful groups who, like us, are committed to help shape services to suit the needs of our communities. I’d like to thank all the organisations who have engaged with the process.

We’re committed to keeping libraries open and operating as libraries, and that is what we will do.

The city’s community libraries transferred to the Council in April 2023 while the Expression of Interest process takes place. 

The ten community library buildings are Allestree, Allenton, Blagreaves, Chaddesden Park, Chellaston, Derwent Community Library, Mackworth, Sinfin, Spondon and Springwood (Oakwood). 

Derby’s five statutory libraries (Alvaston, Normanton, Mickleover, Riverside and Local Studies) are not affected by the proposals and continue to be operated by the Council.