You will have heard the news that Bury Knowle Library is one of the 20 libraries (out of a total of 43) highlighted by the County Council for discontinuation of funding. Details are still sketchy about what exactly it is that the County means by this – would it for example include lease of properties, or replacement stock as well as staffing? We don’t yet know. What we do know is that Bury Knowle House belongs to the City Council, not the County Council, and the County pays the lease to the City. Our portfolio holder is in contact with the relevant senior manager at the City to ascertain whether the City would accept a “peppercorn rent” from any group of volunteers who would like to take over the running of the Library – we haven’t had a response so far
This is part of the County’s press release from 26 November:
Please note these are proposals not decisions
Big Society proposals for the future of Oxfordshire’s libraries
Oxfordshire County Council is asking local communities to come up with innovative ideas to run their local libraries as it proposes to cease funding 20 of the 43 facilities that currently operate in the county, with possible further changes to service levels in future years.
Following the Government’s Spending Review and cuts in funding to local authorities, Oxfordshire County Council currently calculates that it will have to save around £155m up to 2015. These savings will need to be made across all of its services and the library service is one of the areas that will have to contribute to making that saving. The council is already on target to make £35m of savings in 2010/11 with a pay freeze and driving down the costs of contracts with suppliers contributing to this.
What is the vision for the future of libraries?
Proposals have been formulated around a clear vision of providing library hubs centred on key areas of population in Oxfordshire with a quality support network of mobile library services and an extension of the library loan service to include e-books and e-audio downloads, so people can get the books they want direct to their home PCs. Residents will continue to be able to go online and order books from an online catalogue. The books can be delivered either to the nearest library hub or to the village/town by the mobile library service for users to collect.
In formulating proposals for a new way forward there has been a strong emphasis on the comparative quality of the public transport links that enable local communities to reach libraries in individual localities and geographical spread. Usage figures have also been considered.
Are these the final proposals?
Details could yet change when more information becomes available on Local Government Settlement Day – the day when all UK councils learn in detail what their grant funding from central Government will be in future years. Oxfordshire County Council receives 65 per cent of its funding from central Government.
Cash to help innovative ideas
In line with the Government’s Big Society agenda, Oxfordshire County Council is to set up a pot of money to which local communities can bid for funds to help them take responsibility for any library that the council is seeking to end funding.
Which libraries will see funding cease?
A total of 82 per cent of library visits take place to the 23 libraries that are currently proposed for continued funding by the county council.
Oxford and Banbury have excellent transport links with a high quality bus service meaning that libraries are very easy to reach. Oxford Central Library is accessible to everyone in the city and it is proposed that opening hours should be extended to include Sundays. Cowley Library is also proposed to remain as part of the county council’s network of libraries.
Summertown, Headington, Littlemore, Old Marston and Blackbird Leys in Oxford would see funding discontinued as would Neithrop in Banbury.
Adderbury, Bampton, Benson, Berinsfield, Botley, Charlbury, Chinnor, Deddington, Grove, Kennington, North Leigh, Sonning Common, Stonesfield and Woodcote would also see funding cease with opportunities for the community to take over their running.
When will funding cease?
Funding will be phased out during the 2011/12 financial year although there is no exact timetable at the moment. Any further funding changes will be announced in future financial years.
Our latest information from County is that:
information is being worked out for each library – and will be available the week commencing 13th December. Each area will need a different solution, even if the community wants to take it over – because some buildings are leased, some are owned by the County etc etc. So it is taking some time to get the information together to help communities decide what they would like to do. The consultation is likely to start in March 2011
Unofficially a figure of £200K has been mentioned as a possible sum of money for which volunteer groups can bid to maintain their libraries, but this has not yet been confirmed. As soon as we have more details we will let you know, and we shall be meeting Headington Action shortly to discuss a local response