NYCC meeting and Library solutions 21th Feb

Bentham update – 21^st February 2011

At the NYCC meeting in Northallerton on 16^th February 2011, the Chairman of the Council did not allow the following motion to be debated, because the consultation period was still in progress:

9. MOTION – CLOSURE OF LIBRARIES

County Councillor John Clark to move and County Councillor John Savage to

second:-

“Free access to books and other sources of information is a cornerstone of a civilised society. The Library Consultation has caused immense unease and foreboding throughout North Yorkshire. In the present financial climate this has to be balanced with the totally unreasonable reduction in government grants to Local Authorities and hence the need for cuts.

The Consultation proposals have left many residents of North Yorkshire with the justified view that the  ‘we are all in it together’ approach does not apply.

Those in the smaller communities are going to bear the brunt of the ‘cuts’ while those in the larger towns are to be left unscathed. This Council therefore resolves that:

i) 6 of the 10 Mobile Libraries will be retained

ii) All the smaller Libraries will be kept open, albeit with reduced hours.

iii) There will be a reduction in the opening hours of the main Libraries.

iv) The proposed Super Mobile Library will not be proceeded with.”

The mover believes that the Chairman should allow this motion to be debated on the day and has provided the following statement of reasons:

Because of:

i) Immense public concern relating to the retention of North Yorkshire County Council Libraries

ii) It is budget related and, therefore, would be more appropriate to be debated at this full Council.

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The ny times (the publicity paper from North Yorkshire County Council) in its March edition, out just now, Derek Law, Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services states that: “It is our vision to build on and accelerate the work we have done in communities such as Grassington and Hawes to ensure that individuals are given every opportunity to increase their wider health and well- being and the well -being of their community by participating in the development and delivery of a local library service.”

The Grassington Hub is having to raise £10,000 per year. The consultation does not appear to be about community needs etc, but about getting communities to take on the burden of running their own libraries.

County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, executive member for Adult and Community Services (on leave until 28/2/2011) says in ny news, March edition: “ Since the start of our consultation, we have received many approaches offering possible solutions from North Yorkshire residents and partnership agencies and we are keen to hear from more community groups or individuals who would be prepared to work with us to help provide a library service to their community”.

On page 6 of the ny times publication we are told that “Library solutions are in your hands”.  “Solutions that are already being investigated and will hopefully come to fruition include:

·      A town council taking over the lease of the library building to deliver their services from the building while at the same time maintaining a library

·      Moving the library to an already established public venue, such as an arts centre, where volunteers run the library with support from the County Council or other partners.

·      Establishing a library outlet in a pub where volunteers contribute to the service by delivering books to older people in their own homes.

·      Community groups amalgamating facilities under one roof, for example the tourist information centres, Citizens Advice Bureau, the library, the town council, parish council and district council, thus ensuring that the building remains available for broader community use.”