A CHAIRMAN has this morning been appointed to lead the local inquiry into Wirral Council's controversial proposals to close 11 of the borough's libraries.

Sue Charteris, a public policy consultant specialising in local government and public service reform, has been picked by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to head the probe.

Her report is due in June, and the Secretary of State’s decision will follow shortly after.

The move was immediately welcomed by Wirral West MP Stephen Hesford, who told the Globe: "At last the inquiry is underway. I shall certainly be making a submission to it and I urge everyone else to do the same.

"One of the key questions will be, did Wirral Council make a reasonable assessment of local needs - to which the resounding answer is, they did not even make any attempt at such.

"I am very hopeful this review will support my constituents and their need for a proper library service."

The inquiry was announced earlier this month by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham after a public outcry over the plans.

The review's main purpose will be: "To gather information and provide advice in order for the Secretary of State to assess whether, in taking the decision to implement the proposed changes to their library service, Wirral Council is in default of their statutory duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, including the provision of a comprehensive and efficient library service."

Its terms of reference state the inquiry should consider the following questions:

Did Wirral make a reasonable assessment of local needs in respect of library services and, in any event, what are those needs?

On assessment of local needs, did Wirral act reasonably in meeting such needs through their proposals in the context of available resources and their statutory obligations?

The inquiry should consider what assessment was made by Wirral (through the process of consultation) of local needs.

Ms Charteris is a founder member of the Local Government Modernisation Team and associate fellow of the Local Government Centre at Warwick Business School.

She co-founded the Shared Intelligence consultancy, whose website says her experience "gives her unique insight into the challenges confronting local councils as they modernise and reshape services."

The inquiry, which was announced on April 3, will investigate whether the council’s plans are consistent with their statutory duties: the Public Libraries and Museums Act (1964) charges all local authorities with providing, among other things, a "comprehensive and efficient" library service.

A statement from the DCMS says: "Should Wirral Council be found to be falling short of these duties, the inquiry will recommend practical steps they need to take in order to correct this."

Secretary of State Andy Burnham said: “I am delighted that Sue has agreed to take on this significant and valuable role.

This inquiry has the potential to affect the thousands of people on the Wirral who have a right to a comprehensive and efficient library service.

"I’m sure that Sue’s excellent experience with local government, and more recently in supporting authorities through change and improvement, will prove to be invaluable.

“We are in a time when local government, like individual people, are economically challenged.

The modernisation of our library service is at the top of my department’s agenda, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that local services are safeguarded from swingeing changes that could be potentially damaging to communities.

“I am confident that Sue will be thorough, diligent and fair in her Inquiry, and I look forward to reading her report in due course.”

Ms Charteris said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed to lead this inquiry into the Wirral library service.

"Having been involved in local government and worked for local authorities, I fully understand the challenges that they face in the provision of services – particularly in this difficult economic climate – but also know the valuable role that libraries play in local communities.

"My advice to the Secretary of State will be based on a thorough study of the evidence, and I will give all interested parties the opportunity to comment.”

Liscard Conservative Cllr Leah Fraser said: "Sue Charteris has an extensive background in local government and public life and I imagine the council leaders will have some difficulty in pulling the wool over her eyes, as they tried with the rest of us. The sooner her Inquiry begins, the better.

"I very much hope that the inquiry will reveal the fundamental flaws in the SAR and the major errors which have been made by Wirral Council, not least over the sham consultation.

"That requires us, as opponents of the cuts, to once again collect our evidence and prove why we need a comprehensive library service. Hopefully, this time, someone will be listening."

To see the full terms of reference click the link below...