Local Lib-Dem Councillors last week tabled formal challenges to two decisions taken by the Conservative Cabinet to move the One Stop Shop into the Podium and to ask local Town or Parish Councils and community groups or volunteers to take over library provision in areas previously served by branch libraries.
If these ‘call-ins’ are validated, a scrutiny hearing will be held within fourteen working days, in public. Following this, if the panel upholds the call-ins, the Cabinet will be forced to look at the decision again, within ten working days. However, if the call-in is dismissed, the original decision will go ahead.
Councillor Richard Samuel (Walcot), who is the Lib Dem spokesperson on Community Services, commented: “These two policies represent an enormous change to services for people in almost every part of B&NES. These plans were signed off, despite the lack of clarity around the costs and possible savings, the absence of information about ownership of branch libraries, and the need for an assessment of the impact on services, amongst many other issues.”
Councillor Dine Romero (Southdown), Leader of the Lib Dem Group, added: “Yet again the Conservative administration is proving they are not interested in residents’ views and are trying to push through two ill-thought through schemes with little evidence or consultation. This call-in will be an opportunity for residents and Councillors to look in-depth at the Cabinet’s decision making and challenge them on the details of their plans.”
Cllr Karen Warrington, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Transformation and Customer Services, said: “It’s deeply disappointing that the Lib-Dems have decided to treat a valued local service as a party-political football, rather than engage constructively on ways to make our library service sustainable for the future. This irresponsible approach would blow an £800,000 hole in the Council finances and simply put our libraries at greater risk.
“By providing upfront investment and ongoing support from the Council, community-led libraries have proven to be a successful way of protecting and even expanding local library provision. We have already said that we won’t be taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and will be working closely with community groups and parishes on the best approach in each area.
“It’s also a shame that the Lib-Dems are scaremongering about the future of our area’s mobile library provision, when we have been clear that this is not being axed.”