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The recommendations are informed by a 12‑week public consultation carried out between 31 July and 24 October 2025, which drew 4,945 formal responses (plus extensive engagement at 14 drop‑in events), and the analysis has helped shaped the proposals now being put forward for consideration.
The review responds to the council’s requirement to deliver £433,000 savings from the library budget while continuing to meet its statutory duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” public library service. The recommendations reflect consultation feedback, equality impact considerations and an understanding of community needs.
The need to make savings in the library service arises directly from the wider financial pressures facing the council. Years of reduced government funding, combined with escalating demand and rising costs in services such as adult and children’s social care driven by market forces, have created a widening budget gap that no amount of efficiencies alone can close.
No decisions will be made until Full Council have considered the recommendations and evidence in full on 24 February.
What is being recommended to Cabinet
Following evaluation of options consulted on in 2025, the report recommends implementing Option B (as presented during the consultation), which was the option with the highest level of support from respondents and fewer equalities impacts before mitigations compared with the other options.
Key elements of the recommended approach are:
- Winscombe Library – North Somerset Council officers to continue to work with the Parish Council and community on developing a community‑led solution. If no viable proposal is agreed by an agreed date, Winscombe Library will close at the end of March 2027, and statutory provision will be delivered via outreach in line with identified needs.
- Worle Library and Children’s Centre – will be closed due to the significant cost of retaining the building and anticipated extensive repairs; NSC officers to continue to explore community‑based outreach opportunities locally, flagged during the consultation.
- Pill Library – to be retained within the council’s statutory network; North Somerset Council officers to continue local community conversations to support and enhance the offer.
- Opening hours changes:
- For All Healthy Living Centre Library (FAHLC): close one day per week and over lunchtimes (equivalent to an 11.5‑hour weekly reduction).
- North Somerset Studies Library: reduce opening by 2.5 days per week.
- Weston‑super‑Mare Library: reduce staffed hours by 8.5 hours per week, whilst extending self-service opening hours
- Minor reductions across other NSC library sites
- Campus Library - reduction in staffed opening hours and potential introduction of self-service opening hours.
- Budget measures:
- Reduce central staffing and management budgets by £121,200, including deletion of vacant posts.
- Reduce spend on new books and e‑resources by £30,500 and further savings in other back-office budgets
- Income generation: deliver £41,500 per year via a mix of advertising and commercial opportunities, increased lettings/subletting, partnership recharges, donations and external funding for key events.
- Investment: increase outreach activity to help mitigate impacts where site changes occur.
Cllr Mike Solomon, Cabinet Member for Culture, Community Services and Safety at North Somerset Council said: “This has not been an easy conversation for councillors, staff or for our communities. We fully recognise how difficult and unsettling these proposals may feel, but our financial situation means that tough conversations - and ultimately tough decisions - must be faced.
“We have listened carefully to what people told us during the consultation. It is clear how much our libraries are valued, and communities have asked us to find creative, inclusive and future‑focused ways to keep services accessible. This feedback has shaped the recommendations we are putting forward today.
“We remain committed to ensuring that our future library service is fair, accessible and future‑proof, while continuing to meet our statutory duty to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service. Working alongside our staff, community groups and partners, we will do everything we can to ensure our libraries remain vibrant, welcoming and responsive - now and into the years ahead.”
If implemented in full, the proposal delivers total savings of £433,000, meeting the requirement in the Medium‑Term Financial Plan and will look to be implemented from the end of this year.
The Cabinet report detailing the recommendation can be found at Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 11th February, 2026, 2.30 pm | North Somerset Council . The results of the consultation can be found at: Future of Library Services in North Somerset – Consultation Summary Report