BRADFORD'S library service will not take a "once size fits all" approach after a major new shake up, Councillors have been told.

Planned deep cuts to the service of over £1 million will no longer happen, after Bradford Council decided to pump £700,000 of public health money into libraries.

At the most recent meeting of Bradford Council's Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee, members were given an update on what this funding will mean for the service.

Phil Barker, Assistant Director for Sport and Culture, told the committee that all 29 of Bradford's libraries will remain open, and will still offer core services such as book borrowing.

However, in some cases the library services could be in different buildings, and there will now be a public health element to all libraries.

All 29 of Bradford's libraries to remain open - but some could be in new buildings

Rather than the same offer in all library buildings, the Council will look at creating a "bespoke" service for each library - the committee was told.

Mr Barker said a recent public consultation on the library service revealed how vital the public viewed the service.

He said the re-vamped libraries will soon incorporate health and well being and social care services. Each library would have a "bespoke model" - tailored for that particular library.

The committee was given the results of a public consultation. Over 425 people took part, and Mr Barker said 91 per cent of those agreed with the principle of the public health changes.

Councillor David Heseltine (Cons, Bingley) pointed out that to keep libraries sustainable, they needed to attract more customers.

Mr Barker replied: "We are trying to attract a larger customer base."

In the past year the committee has been highly critical of the proposals to cut funding for library services, consultation on the cuts and the unclear future of the service. At the latest meeting Councillor Kamran Hussain (Lab, Toller) pointed out that the latest proposals finally seemed to be getting the service back on track.

He said: "Before it seemed like we were travelling downhill in a car without breaks.

"Now it looks as though we are driving back up in a Ferrari. This all looks good on paper."

Councillor Martin Love (Shipley, Green) added: "We're now in a completely different place then we were a few months ago when the service seemed like it was falling apart. It now looks good."

Councillor Ralph Berry (Lab, Wibsey) said the committee had played a "muscular role" in the process.

He added: "We need to be looking at people who don't currently engage in the library service rather than those that do."

He said in many areas, including Wibsey, the public library was the only civic building people had access to. It would be important for all staff in these new look libraries to know their communities and their needs - he added.

Mr Barker said the new system would come into play in April, but that public health offers would be gradually rolled out to a few libraries at a time. It is likely to have been rolled out to all the district's 29 libraries by April 2021.