A REPORT kept under wraps since January has re-opened the toxic subject of closing Wirral libraries.

The document produced by consultants "Shared Intelligence" - who were commissioned by the council to review the borough's library service - controversially recommends the closure of TEN libraries.

The last time the council attempted such a move it sparked a public outcry resulting in a humiliating climb-down when a Government minister stepped in demanding a U-turn.

The new review - finally published during the general election campaign period - concludes: "A service with a 20% lower budget is possible, geared towards higher impact but with fewer libraries, and a higher ratio of staff to branches.

"This would be achieved by closing some libraries and retaining 14 to 16, meaning Wirral would have one library for every 20,000 to 23,000 residents."

Today the town hall issued a statement stressing it will not be following the advice: “There is no intention of simply closing down ten libraries in Wirral."

However Tory group leader Cllr Ian Lewis is appalled by the expense and secrecy: “We have been asking for four months to see this report - and it’s now clear why the Labour administration was so keen to keep it under wraps and away from the eyes of the electorate. 

“The council having commissioned this report by Shared Intelligence then spent a further £284,000 on a second report by another set of consultants.

"How many books would that buy?

“Consultants are having a field-day in this borough at the council’s expense and without a single member of the cabinet, let alone the leader of the council, wanting to stand up and take responsibility. 

“Meanwhile the future of half our libraries is now hanging in the balance until someone in the cabinet has the guts to say enough is enough and put a stop to this nonsense.”

The Conservative group has called-in the review for scrutiny next Monday, June 19, at a special meeting of the environment committee.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist was equally scathing: "It is typical of the way this council works - failing to involve people when they should.

"The 'Shared Intelligence' report on libraries had been unpublished for some time.

"The report is dated January. It is a disgrace that its conclusions have hidden away for six months.

"The election period cannot be blamed. The report was clearly around four months before the election was ever called.

"This has prevented an open and thorough discussion each communities needs and how to address them."

A council spokesman said: "We are committed to ensuring Wirral has an excellent library service, as part of a set of services designed to help residents access fantastic culture and leisure facilities regardless of where they live in the borough.

“The opinions expressed within the independent needs assessment are just that – opinions.

"The industry experts we asked to look at our library service believe to improve the service we should have more staff, and less individual buildings.

"These opinions are helpful, and we will take them on board as we develop our new model for delivering all of the services we’re reviewing."

The representative added: “However, we do not believe implementing blunt cuts to services is our best option – we have got much bigger ambitions than that.

"We are determined to develop a new proposal which provides every Wirral resident with easy, convenient access to first-rate leisure centres, libraries and museums.

“This is why we started this work in the first place and we believe later this year we will be in a position to put forward ideas to show residents exactly how it can be done.” 

BEEN HERE BEFORE?

2009 saw the launch of an innocuously titled "Strategic Asset Review" which said the borough should have "fewer but better" libraries - but it ended in fiasco.

The Lib/Dem-Labour coalition's closure policy for libraries, a swimming pool and lesiure centres was abandoned amid a confusing vortex involving Government ministers, secret reports, a public inquiry, angry demonstrations, claim and counter claim.

The fallout was enormous and saw councillors at each other’s throats.

Senior officers became dragged into the debacle and some were openly accused of lying to elected members - at the time a rare if not unique step in the history of the authority.

A public inquiry was held and in November of 2009 its findings revealed had the closure plan proceeded the authority would have breached its legal duties.

You can follow the farce yourself by clicking to our special report here.