## **Annual Report 2024 – 2025** Registered Charity (No. 1175929, registered in England and Wales) Registered address: 28 Goldieslie Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 5PQ ## **FOLIO Sutton Coldfield** 1 ## **1. Introduction** Welcome to the 2024 - 2025 annual report for FOLIO Sutton Coldfield. Although this reporting year runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, we have included key information from both before and after the period in order to provide a fuller picture. Our vision is to help create an inspired and cohesive local community, passionate about reading and learning, which enjoys and engages with library services. But for this vision to be achieved, we need a local library service. The future of the libraries within Sutton Coldfield and across Birmingham was under threat during this period and so our focus was on campaigning to ensure that they continued to operate. ## **2. Changes to Library Services** Last year, we reported that Birmingham City Council (BCC) needed to save approximately £2.2 million from the library service and was consulting with residents regarding the future of libraries, which included a reduction in the library service across the city. This process continued into the 2024/25 year. FOLIO Sutton Coldfield campaigned in relation to the proposals both independently and as part of the Birmingham Loves Libraries (BLL) coalition of friends of libraries groups. This campaigning took various forms: - Arranging public meetings in Sutton Coldfield, with the first being held on 17 April 2024. - Engagement with our MP, BCC councillors and officers, and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council (RSCTC) councillors and officers. - Attending a Birmingham Save Our Services rally on 6 May 2024 to show support for the Sutton Coldfield libraries. - Participating in the BLL-organised creative activities such as the Bookmark Art Drop which involved making and releasing a bookmark into a library book for someone else to find from 25 May 2024. - Arranging a Walk and Read event on 29 June 2024, with groups setting off from Boldmere, Mere Green and Walmley libraries and walking to Sutton Coldfield library for a ‘read in’. - Raising awareness of and encouraging participation in the consultation processes. This included offering support in the completion of the consultation survey. - We also passed on to the consultation team messages of support from Boldmere Library users (4), and from the Deanery and the Holy Cross primary schools in support of Walmley Library (262). - Attendance at the ‘in-person’ consultation sessions held in the libraries at Sutton Coldfield (9 September 2024), Mere Green (9 September 2024), Boldmere (12 September 2024), and Walmley (25 September 2024). 2 - The review of numerous documents and reports and the submission of commentaries on the proposals to members of BCC’s Cabinet, its Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and the RSCTC. - Attendance at various meetings of the two councils and their committees, observing, asking questions and lobbying. We were also aware of the unsettling effect of the proposals on the library staff and offered them our unwavering support in order to emphasise that the services they worked so hard to provide were appreciated by the local residents who used them. The outcome of the BCC consultation and decision-making process was that Sutton Coldfield’s library service was hit particularly hard. At the start of 2024, Mere Green and Sutton Coldfield libraries were open for 35 hours (5 days) a week each and Boldmere and Walmley libraries for 21 hours (3 days) a week each. This was a total of 112 hours a week. BCC’s decision in February 2025 meant that it would be providing a statutory library service of 28 hours (4 days) a week at Mere Green Library only. Additionally, on 27 June 2025, BCC announced the closure of Sutton Coldfield Library “due to the significant investment required to address the condition of the building and associated Health and Safety concerns.” A Friday afternoon mobile library stop was introduced. Although we recognised that the building was not a suitable location for the library, we were very disappointed that there did not seem to have been any attempt to secure an alternative location for it. This means that the town centre is now without a library and its local history resources have been re-located to the Library of Birmingham, where they are less accessible to local residents. Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council considered the implications of the BCC proposals. To our great relief, the Town Council, at its meeting on 23 September 2025, resolved to commission Birmingham City Council to provide a library service at Mere Green (for an extra day a week), Boldmere and Walmley (for 3 days a week each) and the adjoining community centres at Mere Green and Walmley. This was a total of an additional 49 hours a week. The Town Council assumed control of the library and community centre service on 1 November 2025, with the initial contract running to 31st March 2030. The timeline for the consultation and decision-making processes is shown in appendix 1 for BCC and appendix 2 for the Town Council. ## **3. FOLIO Services** We were involved in supporting the Warm Welcome sessions in all the Sutton Coldfield libraries by providing some refreshments and equipment to facilitate this activity. We continued with our regular activities at Sutton Coldfield Library including monthly meetings of the Elderberries group for the over 50s and weekly IT surgeries until it closed on 27 June 2025. We considered relocating the Elderberries group but its 3 members lived in or near Sutton Coldfield town centre and the other libraries were not convenient for them. A member of FOLIO has maintained contact with some of the Elderberries and the volunteer offering the IT surgeries. The IT surgeries relocated to Mere Green library and are well-attended. We continued to support Ukrainian refugees. Through our links with Sutton Coldfield Library we worked with North Birmingham 4 Ukraine to run weekly ESOL classes, conversation classes and weekly employment advice sessions. These activities were well attended and offered much needed support until the library closed on 27 June 2025. We were able to offer additional support to children’s activities and craft sessions in Sutton Coldfield Library in relation to its celebrations for its 50[th] anniversary on 12 December 2024. Once Sutton Coldfield Library closed, we removed the FOLIO resources from the library. ## **4. Trustees** The three trustees in place at the start of the year (Noran Flynn, Elizabeth Parry and Jennifer Wilkinson) were re-appointed. During the year, the trustees agreed that we needed to recruit some additional colleagues. We advertised the role, interviewed the applicants and offered the role to four people. John Farrell, Eleanor Shipway and Yulia Velichko are appointed as trustees for three year terms. We are awaiting some documentation to complete a fourth appointment. Once the new trustees were in place, in September 2025 Noran Flynn withdrew from FOLIO in order to focus her energies on her other community commitments. She has been an active member of FOLIO since the days of its precursor, The Library Lobby, and more recently has been our chair. We are extraordinarily grateful to her for all the time and effort she has put in to supporting the Sutton Coldfield library services and the perspective and wisdom she brought to the role. We wish her well. ## **5. Thanks** We are extremely grateful to the trustees and volunteers who gave their time so willingly to make these events and activities possible. Liz Parry Chair, FOLIO Sutton Coldfield 4 Appendix 1 ## **Timeline of Birmingham City Council consultation and decisions on library services February 2024 – June 2025** |27 February 2024|Report to Cabinet
Savings proposed for 2024/25 and 2025/26 agreed, including
savings proposal 193 for Neighbourhood Advice and
Information Service (NAIS) and Community libraries: This
saving proposes changes to the NAIS and Community
Libraries services into Early Intervention and Prevention
Hubs 'community living rooms'. The focus is to deliver better
outcomes for citizens, have a ft for purpose ofer which gets
to citizens much sooner, supports self-support and self-
navigation, removes avoidable demand from higher cost
services, whilst delivering eficiencies and savings.
To save £1,260k in 2024/25 and £2,285k in 2025/26.| |---|---| |4 April – 17 July 2024|First consultation:
Strategic framework for libraries
Move away from 35 community libraries to a mixed delivery
model of hubs ofering library and early intervention and
prevention services with some open 5 days a week and
others open part-time hours; co-location with partners /
community groups; community groups running library
services via community asset transfers; expansion of mobile
library provision. Anticipated circa 25 building-based library
services.| |23 August –
27 September 2024|Final consultation:
Proposed 27 BCC-funded buildings-based community library
services: 10 x full-time library hubs [Mere Green in Sutton
Coldfeld]; 13 x part-time library ofer; 4 x co-location; and 7 x
partner-led opportunities [Boldmere, Sutton Coldfeld,
Walmley in Sutton Coldfeld]; 1 x additional mobile library
service [with 3 additional stops in Sutton Coldfeld]; 1 x
libraryclosure[SpringHill]| |23 October –
3 November 2024|Consultation on revised proposal:
A more equitable split of hours between the full-time and
part-time libraries, with full-time libraries opening 4 days a
week and part-time libraries opening either 3 or 2 days a
week. [For Mere Green, this meant a reduction in proposed
hours from 35 to 28 a week.]| |14 November –
12 December 2024|Consultation following error rectifcation:
An error was identifed in the scoring mechanism used in the
fnal consultation and the amended results were
communicated for consultation. (This error did not afect the
fnal recommendation.)| |27 November 2024|Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee| 5 ||Progress report on savings proposal 193, which was rated
‘red’ meaning the savings would not be delivered in 2024/25.
This was due to consultation timelines slipping.| |---|---| |5 February 2025|Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Consideration of report being presented to Cabinet on 11
February2025.| |11 February 2025|Report to Cabinet
This recommended the following model: “Under the
proposed statutory service model Birmingham will retain 28
library service locations (including the Library of
Birmingham), ofering comprehensive coverage across the
city. This will include 10 Community Library Hubs opening
four days per week, one in each parliamentary constituency.
The remaining locations will operate on a two or three-day
basis determined by current usage. [Note that this is
amended by Recommendation 3.4 of this Cabinet Report to
increase opening hours to a minimum of three days for all
part time locations.] There will also be an additional mobile
libraryvehicle,totalling2 mobile libraries for the service.”| |5 March 2025|Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Consideration of requests for call-in of the 11 February 2025
Cabinet decision.| |14 May 2025|Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Consideration of report on progress of the transformation of
libraries and neighbourhood advice and information services
implementation programme, taking account of the OSC’s
recommendations made on 5 February2024.| |21 May 2025|Announcement of closure of Sutton Coldfeld library on 27
June 2025 “due to the signifcant investment required to
address the condition of the building and associated Health
and Safety concerns.” A Friday afternoon mobile library stop
was introduced.| 6 Appendix 2 ## **Timeline of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council consideration of library services February 2024 – December 2025** |23 April 2024|Strategy & Resources Committee
Noted that the library consultation was now live and would
run to the end of July.| |---|---| |21 May 2024|Council meeting
Motion considered and passed: “This Council applauds and
acknowledges the key role that libraries play in fostering
local communities; supporting education and providing
essential services to residents.
The Council notes with concern the current proposed budget
cuts to library services by Birmingham City Council. The
Council urges Birmingham City Council to reverse the
potential closure of library services across Royal Sutton
Coldfeld.”| |9 July 2024|Strategy & Resources Committee
Noted the temporary opening hours of Sutton Coldfeld
Library and considered the Town Council’s contribution
toward the running costs of the service based in the Town
Centre.| |18 September 2024|Strategy & Resources Committee
Noted the proposed changes to library services by
Birmingham City Council and considered the Town Council’s
response to the future of library services in Sutton Coldfeld,
including exploring a partnership approach. Also resolved to
explore options including relocating Sutton Coldfeld Library
from the Red Rose Centre to a more prominent town centre
location.
Also noted that the Town Council ‘s consultation on the
Strategic Plan 2024-2027 seeks residents’ views on the Town
Council taking on more responsibilities for library Services
and buildings and communityservices and buildings.| |11 February 2025|Strategy & Resources Committee
Noted letter to Cabinet Member for Digital, Culture, Heritage
and Tourism, correcting the position set out in the 11
February2025 Cabinet report| |24 June 2025|Strategy & Resources Committee
To consider options for Royal Sutton Coldfeld Town Council
(RSCTC) to provide a sustainable library service for the Royal
Town of Sutton Coldfeld together with the management of
Mere Green and Walmleycommunitycentres.| |15 July 2025|Council meeting
Received a petition calling for an agreement to safeguard
Sutton Coldfeld libraryfor the future.| 7 |17 September 2025|Strategy & Resources Committee
To consider proposals for Royal Sutton Coldfeld Town
Council to provide a sustainable library service for Sutton
Coldfeld, together with the management of Mere Green and
Walmley Community Centres; and recommend to Full
Council the recommendations outlined in this report.| |---|---| |14 October 2025|Strategy & Resources Committee
To receive a verbal update on Town Council Library and
CommunityCentreprovision.| |1 November 2025|RSCTC assumed control of the library and community centre
service.| |8 December 2025|Strategy & Resources Committee
To receive a verbal update on Town Council Library and
CommunityCentreprovision.| 8 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds La$t year to the n¥re5t to the noarost £ to tha no8re8t£ to tho near88t£ to thè na8r88t £ A1 Receipts Donations Fundraising Gift Aid Sub total (Gross income for AR) 87 87 84 82 11 98 98 179 A2 Asset and investment sales, {see table). Sub total Total receipts 98 98 179 A3 Pa ments B3 83 75 157 120 250 19 196 216 Equiptnent Speakers and event providers Refreshments 39 31 206 216 39 31 206 216 Insurance Accountancy Payment processing fees Sub total 680 680 1,038 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) Sub total Totalpayments 680 6BO 1,038 Net of receIpt￿(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds thiTS year end 582 582 859 6,214 5,632 6.214 5.632 7,073 6,214 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 1710412026 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowrnent funds Categorles D91all$ to neare5t£ to neare5t£ to nearest£ B1 Cash funds Bank S,606 Paypal Petty cash 26 Total cash funds 5,632 18g¢e b8Lgn¢e$ wllh receipt$ and ptyments account{¥ll Unre$lrl¢tod funds to noaro8t£ Rg$trI￿9d funds to no8r68t£ Endowmgnt funds to noar88t£ Detalls Fund to whlch asset belon Curr8ntvalu8 ional Details C(>st loptionall B3 Investment assets Fund to whlch asset belon Cost loptionall Currant valu8 tional Details IT e4uipmÈnl B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Di8p18y Èquipment Fund to which r818ts8 Amount due Sonal When due lonal Details B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Date of roval Signature Print Name Jenn Wilkinson 1710412026 1710412026 CCXX R2 accounts ISSI lan Woodward Accountancy Ltd FOLIO I have examined the receipts and payments (income & expenditure) statements with the books and vouchers thereto and have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required. I certify that in my belief the receipts and payment statements give a true and fair view of the tran5dttions foi the year ending 30 June 2025 according tu tlIE be5L uf ilie iii luriiidLivii and explanation5 given to me and shown by the books of the fund. Any concerns should be expressed as qualifications to the above statement. Signed lan Woodward BA HONS FCCA Date tou 10121 559 54381 f 0121 535 70001 ign@iwaccountsnty.co.uk I vAvw.iwaccountancy.co.uk lan Woodward Accountancy Ltd | 57 High Street | Rowley Regis | West Midlands | B65 OEH Regist6r8d in Engl8nd No.. 076150481 Director.. Mr1 Woodward BA Hons FCCA iuc£iu r mc 115 CL p4 0 000￿00¢￿0 0￿0￿000¢ c5 ul 000 Ln CoOC(QV