Green Party Councillor Julien Pritchard and Independent Councillor Martin Brooks have submitted a call-in request to challenge the Labour Cabinet’s decision to slash Library opening hours and potentially close 7 libraries.
The councillors are asking the Neighbourhoods Overview & Scrutiny to call in the decision, which pushes the Labour Cabinet to look again at the proposals. The councillors have asked for the call in because:
- The decision conflicts with council policies on digital access
- There were a number of concerns around the consultation
- There was no consideration of the effect of reducing opening hours on libraries’ use and viability.
- The information around the partner-led proposals was insufficient and potentially inaccurate.
Green Party Councillor Julien Pritchard said:
“Libraries are absolutely crucial to communities across the city. Any changes need to be done carefully. Instead this decision has slashed opening hours and cast uncertainty over several libraries across the city. “
“There’s no consideration of the effect of cutting opening hours on library use, and how to make sure this doesn’t open the door to more cuts in future.”
“The lack of information on the partner led proposals won’t fill people with confidence that it’s not just a fig-leaf to close those libraries.”
“The Labour Administration really needs to think again on this.”
The documents for the cabinet meeting to approve cuts to the libraries can be viewed here: https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/birmingham/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/14215/Committee/2/Default.aspx
The call in is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12D8Pzq6YyrQrDHNloaY94RSSjCSnGlPo/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=107060955718882334205&rtpof=true&sd=true