A CONTRACT to deliver library services at two prisons in the town is set to be approved.

Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve plans to replace the existing agreement with a new 33-month contract, with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), to the value of £420,471 at its meeting on Monday.

It would enable the council to deliver library services in HMP Risley and Thorn Cross prisons.

The cabinet will also be asked to approve a new contract between the council and LiveWire sub-contracting the management and delivery of prison library services.

In his report, Cllr Tony Higgins, cabinet member for leisure and community, says that since 2012 the council has managed library services in HMP Risley and HMP/YOI Thorn Cross through a service level agreement with the MOJ, which was in turn sub-contracted to LiveWire through the management agreement with LiveWire for leisure and library services.

He states the MOJ has now requested that a new contract be put in place with the council to replace the existing service level agreement.

It is recommended the service remains sub-contracted to LiveWire, but a new contract is put in place which ensures all requirements on the council within the MOJ contract are ‘properly assigned’ to LiveWire – which is ‘not effectively covered’ in the existing management agreement.

It is expected that the MOJ will carry out a wider review of prison education and library services over the next three years.

In his report, Cllr Higgins also says the prison library service at both prisons play a key role in supporting the reducing re-offending strategy by providing a ‘neutral and non-judgemental environment’ for prisoners, as well as providing access to a wide range of books, newspapers, magazines and DVDs to ‘create opportunities’ for prisoners to improve their literacy and information skills, which have a ‘significant impact upon the employment opportunities’ for prisoners on release, especially their ability to apply for jobs online.