CAMPAIGN group Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE), which fought successfully to stop proposed closures of two-thirds of libraries in Essex five years ago, has written to local government leaders with their concerns about the potential break up of Essex Library Service after local government in the county is reorganised.
The group has launched an “Essex libraries – better together” campaign, and is proposing that Essex Library Service is kept as one by all the unitary authorities (however many there are) establishing a joint board to run the service.
They have received “positive” responses from the Chelmsford City Council Leader, Lib-Dem Stephen Robinson, Uttlesford District Council (UDC) Leader Petrina Lees, of Residents for You, the Greens’ James Abbott, and the Essex County Council (ECC) non-aligned group leader Chris Pond.
SOLE wrote to local government leaders for all the main parties on the 4th October, in which they asked: “we wish to know what your and your party’s plans are for libraries under the new unitary system? In particular, would you consider SOLE’s proposal to keep the Library Service as one single service, and agree that Essex Libraries are better together?”
SOLE’s email went onto say:-
“We cannot see anything to gain from splitting the service up. We believe library users should retain the ability to withdraw a book at for instance Harlow Library, and then return it to Harwich Library, and also benefit from the resources of the wider Libraries Consortium. We also believe keeping the service as one can only be beneficial when it comes to economy of scale.
Furthermore, it was a great strength of the successful campaign that saved every single library in Essex, that campaigners in one corner of our county did not merely protest against the closure of their own local library. They campaigned to keep all our libraries open. For that reason, any politician who sees libraries as perhaps a soft touch for cuts, would welcome the atomisation and break-up of our library service.”
SOLE also raised concerns that the reorganisation “is a very top down process, with a lack of transparency and democracy. Furthermore, it will be an expensive process, with a temptation to cut services to offset the cost, and that libraries may be in the firing line again. However, we do see one opportunity, which is to reintegrate Southend and Thurrock libraries back into Essex Libraries.”
SOLE also pointed out to local government leaders that the proposal is permissible under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, which allows two or more councils to establish a joint board to run libraries.
The Leader of Uttlesford Council, Petrina Lees, replied: “In principle, we here at UDC agree, we campaigned strongly for the Thaxted Library to stay open”, while fellow independent (group leader on ECC) Chris Pond said: “I tend to agree with you”. James Abbott of the Green Party, Deputy Leader of the independent and Green group on Braintree Council pledged “to ask about the options for the service being managed as a whole across the county.”
The Chelmsford Council Leader, Lib-Dem Stephen Robinson, said: “One of the huge strengths is indeed the interlending service. If Lib Dems are in charge of the Mid Essex unitary, we would definitely try to maintain that. That would require the other unitary councils to agree but why wouldn’t they? Joint Committees to run services are indeed possible.”
The other local government leaders contacted and who have so far failed to respond* are Labour’s Gavin Callaghan, Leader of Basildon Council, the Conservative Leader of Harlow Council Dan Swords, and the Leader of Reform on Tendring Council, Jeff Bray. Copies also went to the Labour leader on ECC, Ivan Henderson, the ECC Tory Leader, Kevin Bentley, and Reform’s only Essex County Councillor, Jaymey McIvor
