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Mobile library to be scrapped but no cuts to Brighton & Hove's other 14 libraries

By James Ledward
Jan 14, 2012 - 10:53:25 AM
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Cllr Geoffrey Bowden
No libraries in Brighton & Hove are to be cut and no hours reduced in city centre libraries as part of the Green administrations proposed budget for 2012.

However the mobile library service will be scrapped and a new library built in Woodingdean. Just two lower-use libraries will see a reduction in hours but no libraries are to close.
 
Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, said:
“Given the swingeing cuts that central government is imposing on local authorities, it is an important victory for us to announce that we propose to keep all 14 Brighton & Hove libraries open. And at a time when so many other towns and cities are closing libraries, we’re even building a new one in Woodingdean and improving Sunday opening hours for our flagship Jubilee Library, in response to public demand. Retaining all our libraries means a reduction in hours for just two libraries at their less busy times, but this is a small price in the face of the government cuts and shows the Greens’ commitment to frontline services.”
 
Jubilee Library’s Sunday opening will be extended by an hour in the afternoon, balanced by closing an hour earlier on Thursday evenings, which is a time of low demand. Across the week, the total number of hours at Jubilee Library would remain unchanged.
 
The two libraries which see proposals for reduced hours are Hangleton and Portslade, whose opening times would change from five and a half days to four days a week. After-school clubs will continue as before in both libraries and, in Portslade, the Gateway Children’s Centre will carry on being supported.
 
Geoffrey Bowden continued:
“Our proposals for Hangleton and Portslade, together with general efficiencies, enable us to meet stringent budgetary targets yet continue to provide Brighton and Hove with an excellent service where virtually everyone has a library within walking distance and library services continue to be available seven days a week.”
 
Under the administration’s proposals the city’s mobile library service is to be withdrawn. 

Geoffrey Bowden explained:
“The vehicle is getting increasingly expensive to maintain and would cost in excess of £120,000 to replace. However the most telling justification for proposing the withdrawal of the service is that nearly 70 percent of the registered users also use static libraries.  Of the remainder, Council figures show that just three people are housebound.  They and people who have significant difficulty getting to a library can still be served by our excellent Home Delivery service, so should not be disadvantaged.”
 
The mobile library will not disappear completely.  It will reappear in Woodingdean to provide continuity of library services for residents while the new library, more than double the size of the existing facility, is being built.
 
The administration is also taking up a suggestion put forward by the Labour group to explore whether the third sector would be interested in running a mobile library service, since it sometimes can access capital funds needed to purchase a new vehicle.
 
“I thought this was an interesting suggestion and I have asked both Labour and Conservative councillors to participate in discussions, should there be an appetite from the voluntary sector to take on this service.” said Cllr Bowden.
“Sadly those discussions are unlikely to provide an answer in time for the council to agree its budget, but are certainly worth exploring”.
 
The service for people with visual impairment is changing with the present scheme (under which users’ individual RNIB subscriptions are paid for them) being replaced by new arrangements with the charity Calibre Audio Library, together with implementation of the national Six Steps initiative, to ensure that users do not suffer in the provision of services.
 
Consultation on all library proposals begins on Monday January 16 and continues until February 10.

Proposed changes will begin in April 2012. A consultation leaflet about library hours will be available in all of the city’s 14 libraries and can also be accessed via Brighton & Hove City Council’s consultation portal.

Letters to all registered users of the mobile library and all those currently accessing the RNIB talking books service are being sent seeking feedback on the proposed changes as part of the same consultation.
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Cllr Gill Mitchell
Cllr Gill Mitchell, Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group, said:
"We welcome that fact that there will not be major cut-backs to Library services for the forthcoming year but there is no such promise from the Greens for the year after that.

The 800 users of the Mobile Library will not be pleased at the proposals to scrap it and I have asked that an alternative provider for that service be found."



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