Jeremy Hilton

LIBRARIES HOURS SLASHED

Major cuts in opening hours to 31 libraries are being proposed by the Conservative administration on Gloucestershire County Council. The Liberal Democrats have filed a motion to challenge the administration over cuts in library opening hours.

Reducing opening hours would reverse a programme of extending library hours which was undertaken by Liberal Democrats in the last administration from 2001 to 2005.

The Conservative proposals include closing county libraries after office hours, and during lunchtimes. Not only would this mean that fewer people would be able to use their local libraries, it would also hit library income, as nobody would be able to do things like rent a DVD on the way home.

Under the Liberal Democrats the county council invested heavily in the libraries, building new libraries in Bishops Cleeve, Longlevens and Dursley, and refurbishing Cirencester, as well as extending the opening hours, and introducing free internet-enabled PCs so people without the internet at home could get on-line.

“Earlier this year the Tories approved £250,000 of cuts to the Libraries staffing budget and now the consequences are being made public - less hours, job losses and a degraded service.” said Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucestershire County Council Liberal Democrats. “We were proud of extending library access, improving services, and building better libraries. I am disappointed that the Tories have failed to build on the improvements we made in public libraries. Now if we get back in next year, we’re going to have to start all over again.”

Councillor Deryck Nash, group spokesperson for libraries, agreed. “This is a let down. Everybody uses their local library to some extent and this should be encouraged rather than restricted by penny pinching cuts. We want to see libraries that are fit for purpose, and provide essential services for the public, and are open after work and at weekends.”

 

The text of the motion filed by the Lib Dem group reads:

This council calls on the cabinet member for libraries to withdraw his plans to cut opening hours in libraries across the county.

This council notes improvements made by the former administration to its libraries including:

1. extending opening hours
2. the introduction of free internet access through internet connected computers
3. investment in building or major refurbishment in libraries such as Longlevens, Dursley, Bishops Cleeve and Cirencester

This council condemns this administration's policy of considering the reduction of opening hours in our public libraries. Council requests in the strongest terms the cabinet member to immediately halt his plans, and to report back to council on ways and means that opening hours in our county libraries can be extended, to include Sunday opening.

This council also calls on the administration to end lone working in Gloucestershire libraries.

Proposed by Jeremy Hilton

Seconded by Deryck Nash

This will be debated at the next meeting of full Council, on June 25th

 

See Tory climbdown