Three community libraries were likely to close to save money in Brighton and Hove but councillors were told that the locations had not yet been confirmed.
They were told that Brighton and Hove City Council was currently carrying out a “needs and use” analysis and it would then consult the public.
Other proposed changes to the library service include reducing the opening hours at the flagship Jubilee Library, in Brighton, and the Carnegie Library, in Hove.
Members of the council’s People Overview and Scrutiny Committee were told yesterday (Tuesday 18 March) that 10am to 5pm opening hours would remain.
The proposal to close three community libraries was included in a £250,000 savings plan over two years. The council currently spends £3.7 million a year on the library service.
Conservative councillor Anne Meadows asked for details as to which libraries were earmarked for closure during the scrutiny committee meeting at Hove Town Hall.
Councillor Meadows, who represents Patcham and Hollingbury, said: “I’m reasonably sure one of these closures will be in my area.
“We’ve already lost our family hub so that’s one of the solutions for support out of the window.
“I am concerned about planning on centralising all services into town. (It’s) difficult for people from Patcham to get into Hove or Jubilee libraries to access services.”
She said that older people had not been identified as a protected group who would be affected by the closure as many used the libraries as a warm space after losing winter heating allowance.
Labour councillor Emma Daniel, the council’s cabinet member for children, families and youth services, has taken over responsibility for libraries in the past week.
She said that there was no secret list of the branches being considered for closure.
Councillor Daniel said: “Whichever wards are affected by a library closure, we do need to look at the access they have to other centres.
“I don’t think there’s any expectation for people to travel into town to access council services. Most people access council services online or over the telephone.”
A private finance initiative (PFI) contract is due to end in 2029. This is expected to reduce running costs by £1 million a year although the council will have to finance the book fund and pay for cleaning and security which are currently covered by the contract.
Labour councillor Alison Thomson asked about the effects of the PFI contract on costs.
The council’s head of library services, Ceris Howard, said: “We have a very healthy book fund compared with most library authorities – probably compared with every library authority across the country.
“We’re very comfortable with that. There are lots of things we’re going to be able to do to reduce that financial risk.
“When we know more what that will look like, we’ll look at what our proposals will be for the long-term survival of the library service.”
A consultation is expected to start in the late spring or early summer.
Less than 3 weeks ago Labour Leader Bella was saying “In times when people desperately crave third spaces, when it’s hard to leave your house without spending money, when it’s difficult to find support and build meaningful connections, our Jubilee Library shines.” now she’s closing them.
Don’t get me started on her Labour colleagues in Westminster trying to stop disabled and unwell people from getting disability benegots – on top of cruel winter fuel payment cuts, continuation of unnecessary child poverty via 2 child benefit cap, and impact on businesses and charities (some which will fold) because if the government’s national insurance contribution changes.
Like all of the above national cuts, closing libraries will affect some of the poorest in our communities. It’s staggering that the Labour Party are being so cruel, when they could do other things, like taxing those on higher incomes more.
Well said Totally agree . It’s blatantly obvious that if they tax the high earners and people/businesses mostly foreign who pay no taxes with offshore bank accounts etc. the sky called black hole!!!! Will be instantly solved.
The high earners and wealthy can move their money assets offshore at the press of a button. They can also move themselves to be tax-domiciled in another country very quickly. This is the balancing act every government faces: tax the rich too much they and all their wealth goes abroad; tax them enough to get them to stay and pay, but maybe not the amount wanted; tax them too little and you get lots of tax-domiciled wealthy people but you get little revenue.
This is always used as a threat, but it never happens. And that just creates space for social mobility.
And at the same time, awarding already grossly overpaid train drivers a huge payrise.
Perhaps this council could save some money by not recruiting the ‘Community Cohesion Co-ordinator’ on a salary of £73k that I commented on a while back.
And stop the pointless vanity projects like VG3.
What on earth does a ‘Community Cohesion Co-ordinator’ do and for a salary of £73k?
I think Brighton and Hove News should interview this individual to ensure residents are getting value for their council tax here.
You should certainly ask if a job description could be shared.
Totally agree
None! Brighton and Hove City Council has a statutory duty to provide Libraries! Not to bail out the i360 which should never have had public loans board money lent to a private enterprise in the first place!
They can also cut their vanity projects and slash the 275-strong Transport department, considering they are beyond incompetent, and the roads have never been in worse condition with more potholes and blockages. How about paying the new council CEO less instead of MORE than the Prime Minister – and for doing what exactly??? Ms Gibbons is invisible as far as council taxpayers are concerned! Would anyone even notice if she wasn’t there? Nor do we need a useless EDI department, which is not addressing digital discrimination and isolation in accessing council services – arguably the most serious discrimination of all involving the largest number of residents.
So true
Boo hoo! The Council have to spend £3.5M on libraries BUT they are receiving £7M from bus gate fines. Who is doing the Accounts? Noddy?
Ringfenced funds. Can’t be done.
New Labour can’t be trusted with our public services. They can’t blame central government anymore as they are also central government. Tory lite careerists.
I’m repeating myself about this, but I really think a big area of solution here is to focus on community-run assets to deliver some of these services that the council wants to cut back on. With better recourse to funding streams, and a history of successful delivery in Brighton, the Third Sector keeps popping up as a potential solution to a lot.
Excuse me but the resident-community has already PAID for its Libraries though its council tax.
Why should the resident-community have to pay again owing to council mismanagement and wrong priorities of their council tax? What an absolute cheek to suggest this.
We need a full independent audit of all council departments and expenditures. In the public domain. It’s time for full transparency.
It wouldn’t, that’s the point, Mike.