Hands off libraries, Wirral Tories warn (From Wirral Globe)
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Hands off libraries, Wirral Tories warn
12:26pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes
Hands off libraries, Wirral Tories warn
WIRRAL Tories have vowed all out war against any moves to cut library services as part of a savage cost-cutting exercise by the local authority.
Faced with the prospect of cutting back spending to the tune of £100m over three years council chiefs are probing local authority operations extensively in a bid to find savings.
Council leader Cllr Phil Davies said some services could end up outside direct council control as the authority sought “imaginative and innovative” ways to make economies.
But Tory councillors have pledged to shield the libraries from the axe.
Deputy Tory group leader Cllr Lesley Rennie warned: “If anyone dares to say the libraries aren’t essential services I would be beside myself with rage.
"We haven't seen any documentation on any proposed economies yet and I would hope that the libraries are not involved.
"If they were then I, along with my Conservative colleagues, would vociferously fight to defend them."
Three years ago plans to shut 11 libraries across Wirral were quashed following a huge outcry and a public inquiry.
Cllr Rennie said: “It was clear from the inquiry that libraries are at the heart of local communities and it never crossed our minds that they might be at risk.
“If they are we could fight tooth and nail to save them.”
She said that “quite a lot of budget implications” would be made more apparent at next Thursday’s meeting of the Labour-controlled Wirral Council cabinet.
At the same meeting councillors will learn the initial results of a major consultation exercise in which the public were asked to identify the services they most valued.
Almost 7,000 people took part in the consultation – one of the biggest of its kind in the country.
The findings indicated that people agreed the top priorities should be protecting vulnerable adults and children, tackling poverty and inequalities in health, creating jobs and attracting investment.
People also placed high value on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, education and care for the elderly and the local environment.
There was also support for the council looking to raising or introducing charges for services, with income raised used to protect other services.
Comments(17)
don't look back in anger
says...
6:41pm Fri 2 Nov 12
David Scott
says...
9:05pm Fri 2 Nov 12
spamfiend
says...
7:07pm Sat 3 Nov 12
Positive thinker
says...
7:44pm Sat 3 Nov 12
johnbrace
says...
7:51am Sun 4 Nov 12
Wirralrob
says...
1:55pm Sun 4 Nov 12
They should be used to describe a deluded individual who tries to blame others for problems he and his party created.
In short, tory calling the kettle a tory.
uncatom
says...
2:08pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Positive thinker wrote:Getting nervous positive? might not be enough money to sponsor your beloved TRFC if we waste it on libraries, and that would never do would it?
Close them once and for all demolish or sell the buildings and lets have the end of this saga
Positive thinker
says...
6:03pm Sun 4 Nov 12
and sell them for a tidy profit how's does that sound oncotom
uncatom
says...
6:18pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Positive thinker wrote:Sounds about right positive,fits in with their lack of ethics.Did'nt know TRFC had a property department is that the one at Westminster House?
Maybe TRFCs property department could get them for a song,gain planing
and sell them for a tidy profit how's does that sound oncotom
freebase
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8:42pm Tue 6 Nov 12
freebase
says...
1:51am Wed 7 Nov 12
Wirral_Man
says...
8:39am Wed 7 Nov 12
I ask all of you saying that the Government shouldn't cut anyhing where is the money going to come from to pay for all of this?
What Milliband and co don't really shout about is that they won't reverse most of the cuts i they win the next election anyway. So all that we're left with is what's you prioroty for keeping and cutting.
Personally I think libraries are very important but even I can see some dramatic inefficiencies in the system before you think about closures:
1. If any of you go to a University library you'll see that you can check in and out all of your books yourself which means that you need much less staff.
2. Why do most of the libraries have separate desks for adult and children's sections when one would do the job?
3. If you send a book back to a differant library it automatically gets sent to it's hoem library why couldn't it go on the shelves at the library that it's returned to and only moved abotu expensively if the numbers get imbalanced.
4. Alllow people to register for their library card when they pay their council tax (as this is form of id) removing most of the registration work that has to go on in the libraries.
And I could go on.
Save the libraries but don't think that they have to cost the same to run!
Dazzydog76
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9:12am Wed 7 Nov 12
1. Staff in libraries do far more than just issue and return books so RFID would not significantly reduce the number of staff required.
2. Most libraires do not have separate desks for children and adults. Those that do generally co-ordiante specialist services for children.
3.Libraires have a regular van delivery to ensure that requested books are sent to where they are needed along with stationery and other materials. It is therefore not a drain on resources to return books to their home site.
4. Registration requires the use of a specialist IT system that is licensed for use in specific sites. It would therefore be difficult and costly to adopt the idea you propose.
bickyboy
says...
10:15am Wed 7 Nov 12
Tories, who has told WBC to make the cuts? The Tooth Fairy? No, its your own government: you know, the "arrogant posh boys"(your own MP's words)?
Take it up with them, chain yourselves to the railings outside Whitehall, demand a better local government settlement and for once, show some spirit and some integrity and stop trying to blame others for your own lack of backbone!
Positive thinker
says...
6:30pm Wed 7 Nov 12
on the library site on Borough Road
maybe TRFC could help the council out by taking it of there hands its a win win the council get much needed money plus a nice fee for the section 106
freebase
says...
8:08pm Wed 7 Nov 12
Fungy says...
3:23pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Libraries can not figure too highly on the list of priority's and therefore will most certainly be effected. If you are going to stand up for libraries I hope you will also be standing up for Child services, adult services, education, recycling and waste collection etc etc.
The difference about 3 years ago was that the council wasn't having its budget cut by a 3rd.
If you want to kick up a fuss, why arent you banging on the door of 10 downing street.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh I am fuming with rage!