Agenda item

The staff side wish to question the council rationale for supporting the option of closing 8 out of 15 libraries, cutting staffing and the privatisation of the remaining service to a Trust. Please find attached the report on this subject that was submitted to the meeting of the Renewal and Recreation Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee held on 15^th February 2011.

The Council’s rationale for supporting the option of closing eight out of fifteen libraries, cutting staffing and the privatisation of the remaining service to a Trust was questioned by the Staff-side.

To assist debate of the subject a report of this subject that had been considered by the Renewal and Recreation Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 15^th February 2011 was attached to the agenda.

The Staff-side Secretary reported grave concerns regarding the library service proposal from staff and residents alike. A 2,000 signature petition had been received in protest of proposed closures together with an 800 signature petition on Anerley Library and a 500 signature petition to do with the proposals for the library at Burnt Ash School. This demonstrated the anxiety over the decisions made by Council on 28^th February 2011. It was possible that 8 out of the 15 libraries in the Borough would be closed. This was over and above the anticipated job losses caused by the proposed merger of the library management team with Bexley Council. Bexley would control the library service in Bromley and the officer felt that this was back door privatisation trust. He had heard the trust idea might be stopped because of the changes in the tax rules. The Staff-side Secretary felt the trust option was a tax dodge and if this was no longer possible he asked that the option of bringing back MyTime in-house be considered before the contract with MyTime was renewed. The Staff-side sought a guarantee that there would be no compulsory redundancies and no service alterations as a result of the library review.

A Councillor advised that much had changed since libraries had come into existence. There was a 25% reduction in book lending as a result of cheaper prices for books and the popularity of electronic gadgets etc. People shopped in supermarkets rather than at local shops therefore did not visit the library as part of the trip. Freedom passes made it easier for people to travel – life had changed and the existing 1930’s library structure was no longer sustainable. It was costing some libraries £6 to lend each book. This was too much and it would be cheaper to give books away. The world was changing and the library service must change with it such as being used as a gateway to other services.

Another Councillor disagreed and felt that the importance of books in life had not changed. The libraries did not just lend books but also provided a social service. Not all residents could access the central library in Bromley. The old, infirm and young mothers with children would rather use local libraries. It was very important to introduce books to children as the electronic age was too strong. This review should not just be considered in financial terms but also in the terms of value to the community.

The Chairman advised that, in relation to the suggestion to return MyTime to Bromley Council, the NNDR changes could be achieved on new businesses only. In addition, MyTime was successful and brought a valuable economic contribution to the Council, bringing the service back in-house would be uneconomical. He reminded the Committee that the Government was making swingeing cuts and the next two years would be even more painful. The Council did not intend to abolish the library service and was trying to achieve a better, high quality service. The use of computers in libraries was absolutely germane.

The Assistant Director for Culture confirmed that the MyTime NNDR position would not change. The meeting of the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee on 15^th February 2011 had considered the proposed partnership with Bexley. Only back office staff would be affected and mainly senior managers. Part of the ambition for the proposal was to protect front line services. The historic structure and network of libraries was being looked at in an effort to come to conclusions about the future. A direction of travel report would be submitted to the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee on 12^th April 2011 which would explore the options open to the Council. Six informal meetings had been held with staff with more to come. After 12^th April, Members would be asked to move to the formal consultation stage.

The Vice-Chairman felt it was very sad that certain Councillors thought that book lending levels were falling like a stone. The levels were falling because book funds had been raided in the last few years so book stocks had fallen so there were not enough books for people to borrow.  Some book funds had been cut to protect the jobs of library staff. The recession would cause higher use of libraries and she was glad that some Councillors could afford to buy new books for themselves. Anerley library had been starved of books and staff and there were always queues of children waiting to use the library computers for their homework. Some libraries were shut at lunch time without notice because of lack of proper staffing. This was not good for the reputation of the library. There were all sorts of reasons that the library service was failing. All libraries provided all sorts of services from lending books to providing advice on how to fill in government forms, community groups and meetings etc. It had been proved that children who used libraries had higher IQ’s than children who did not.

The Chairman noted that all this information would have to be incorporated in the review.

The Staff-side Secretary stated that library services had changed radically in the last 50 years and served the young and old alike. This included technology training for the retired or those seeking to retrain and providing support for schools and children. The Assistant Director for Culture had accused the Secretary of being disingenuous but option 4 (the closure programme) was set out in the report for all to see. The officer had been told that the merger with Bexley would involve 60 to 65 staff across the two boroughs and some of these were not senior managers but junior professionals who worked at the libraries themselves. He would look forward to the next report and warned that the Council would feel the wrath of the people of the Borough for the protection of what was a highly praised service.

In response, the Assistant Director for Culture advised that the figure of 60 to 65 was correct and that a combined management structure of 40 to 45 staff was being considered. This would mean that 20 jobs were potentially at risk. The review was not looking at staff who delivered the service and all Bromley libraries would continue to look like Bromley libraries.

The Chairman looked forward to the report being submitted to the PDS Committee on 12^th April 2011 and asked that the LJCC be allowed to see it also.

RESOLVED that the report on the library review being submitted to the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee on 12^th April 2011 also be seen by the Local Joint Consultative Committee at its next meeting.