Agenda item

Library Services

It was moved by Councillor David Baker, seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, that this Council:-

(a)       notes that more than 32,000 signatures have been presented to the Council regarding the Administration’s disastrous review of library services;

(b)       confirms that under the Administration’s current plans sixteen community libraries remain under threat of closure;

(c)        believes the Administration’s attitude has been an insult to local campaigners with genuine concerns snubbed and simple questions ignored;

(d)       recognises that the Council need to make savings and do things differently but believes that local people have been clear that closing libraries is not the right way forward;

(e)       believes that every library deserves access to professional staff;

(f)        recalls the budget amendment of the main opposition group, which was signed off by Council finance officers, and identified sensible savings which, if implemented, would mean reductions in funding to the libraries service could be restored; and

(g)       urges the Administration to listen to local residents and re-think their plans for local libraries to ensure that no library is under threat of closure.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Mazher Iqbal, seconded by Councillor Geoff Smith, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

 (a)      recognises that the Council is facing an unprecedented level of cuts from Central Government, meaning that by 2015/16 the Council will have had an overall reduction in Government formula funding by 50% and recognises that with this level of funding reductions all services across the Council will be seriously affected;

(b)       further recognises that over the past three years, the Council has done everything possible to make budget reductions in libraries without making substantial changes to the service, however recognises that with the level of cuts now facing the Council, this is no longer possible;

(c)        welcomes that the Council is looking to find new ways of delivering library services given the serious situation facing libraries nationally and notes reports stating that over 400 libraries have closed nationally and 1000 are estimated to close by 2016;

(d)       welcomes the changes to the proposals for associate libraries recently announced which will now ensure that they have all running costs met and will continue to offer internet access and be on the Council’s catalogue;

(e)       recognises that this extra support is based on the feedback from what community groups said that they need to operate associate libraries and appreciates that the proposals offer a genuine opportunity to keep all libraries open at a time when libraries across the country are closing due to the unprecedented and unfair cuts that the Government is making to cities such as Sheffield; and

(f)        resolves to continue to do everything possible to work with local community groups to support them to keep all libraries open in the city, in the face of unprecedented Government cuts.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

 (a)      recognises that the Council is facing an unprecedented level of cuts from Central Government, meaning that by 2015/16 the Council will have had an overall reduction in Government formula funding by 50% and recognises that with this level of funding reductions all services across the Council will be seriously affected;

(b)       further recognises that over the past three years, the Council has done everything possible to make budget reductions in libraries without making substantial changes to the service, however recognises that with the level of cuts now facing the Council, this is no longer possible;

(c)        welcomes that the Council is looking to find new ways of delivering library services given the serious situation facing libraries nationally and notes reports stating that over 400 libraries have closed nationally and 1000 are estimated to close by 2016;

(d)       welcomes the changes to the proposals for associate libraries recently announced which will now ensure that they have all running costs met and will continue to offer internet access and be on the Council’s catalogue;

(e)       recognises that this extra support is based on the feedback from what community groups said that they need to operate associate libraries and appreciates that the proposals offer a genuine opportunity to keep all libraries open at a time when libraries across the country are closing due to the unprecedented and unfair cuts that the Government is making to cities such as Sheffield; and

(f)        resolves to continue to do everything possible to work with local community groups to support them to keep all libraries open in the city, in the face of unprecedented Government cuts.

(Note: Councillors Jillian Creasy and Robert Murphy voted for Paragraphs (a) and (f), against Paragraphs (b) and (e) and abstained on Paragraphs (c) and (d) of the Substantive Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)