Department for Culture Media and Sport

Wirral Library Service Inquiry FAQ

Q - What is a Local Inquiry?

A - A Local Inquiry in this context is a statutory inquiry or fact-finding investigation into the provision of local services conducted by the government pursuant to a power to do so under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. It is conducted in accordance with the procedural rules under the Public Libraries (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1992 and provides a public forum at which oral and written evidence is presented.

Q - Why did DCMS hold an Inquiry into the Wirral Library service?

A - The Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport has a duty to ensure local authorities discharge their duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. Given the large volume of correspondence received from members of the public and from professional bodies expressing their concern about the restructuring of Wirral's library service, he concluded that a local inquiry was the best way to independently gather and assess information on the proposals.

Q - What did the Inquiry do?

A - The Inquiry gathered information and presented matters of fact and conclusions on such facts in order for the Secretary of State to assess whether, in taking the decision to implement the proposed changes to their library service, Wirral MBC was in default of its statutory duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, including the requirement to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.

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Q - What did the Inquiry cover?

A - Please see the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry.

Q - Who co-ordinated the Inquiry?

A - The Secretary of State appointed Sue Charteris to lead the Inquiry.

Q - How did the Inquiry work?

A - The Inquiry was conducted in accordance with the Public Libraries (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1992.

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Q - Where did the Local Inquiry take place?

A - The oral hearing of the local inquiry was convened at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, on 9 & 10 June 2009. In the lead-up to the oral hearing Sue Charteris undertook a series of pre-Inquiry meetings and visits.

Q - Who was involved in the Inquiry?

A - Sue Charteris led the Inquiry, and the Secretary of State was represented at the oral hearing. People resident, working or studying in the area contributed statements of case in accordance with the procedural rules (and where possible coordinated through residents associations, library user groups or national interest groups), as did:

Community leaders - including local Members of Parliament and Councillors

Key partner organisations

Council officers (the leadership, library managers, library staff and their unions).

Q - I wrote to the Secretary of State / Wirral MBC regarding my views on the library service; should I have re-submitted this correspondence/information?

A - The Secretary of State shared relevant information and correspondence already held by him with the Inquiry, and asked Wirral MBC to do likewise. It was therefore not necessary to resubmit correspondence, unless making additional points or submitting a formal statement of case.

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Q - How can I give evidence at the inquiry?

A - In order to give oral evidence at the Inquiry on 9 June 2009, we requested that written statements of case (together with any supporting evidence) were submitted as soon as possible followed by a written proof of evidence by 5pm on 25 May. Statements of case and proofs of evidence received after this date were separately considered as part of further appropriate arrangements. All oral evidence given during the Inquiry was subject to public cross examination by the Secretary of State and the Wirral MBC.

Where involvement was limited to written correspondence only, we requested that such correspondence was submitted prior to 25 May and, where possible, co-ordinated through interest groups and representative organisations. Written submissions, where relevant and were received in time, were taken into consideration as part of the Inquiry and in the preparation of the final report, but only those who submitted a formal statement of case and, where appropriate, a proof of evidence were entitled to give oral evidence to the Inquiry on 9 & 10 June.

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Q - Was the Inquiry session open to the public?

A - Yes, members of the public who did not submit a statement of case were also entitled to attend (but not present evidence at) the Inquiry.

Q - When will the findings of the Inquiry be made public?

A - The conclusions of the Inquiry will be delivered to the Secretary of State in the form of a written report. This report will be published subsequently, when the Secretary of State announces his decision.

Q - Is there any way of challenging the findings of fact of the Inquiry if I don’t agree with them?

A - The purpose of the Inquiry is to provide the Secretary of State with information and conclusions on matters of fact so that he can come to a decision. The best way to ensure that matters of fact are brought to the attention of the Inquiry is to submit correspondence or evidence to the Inquiry. If, in making his decision, the Secretary of State is disposed to disagree with a matter of fact presented by the Inquiry, or to consider any new evidence or new matter of fact that has come to light, he will give the persons who appeared at the Inquiry the opportunity of asking for the inquiry to be reopened.