Vale of Glamorgan libraries facing cuts as council struggles with budget

A strategy aimed at slashing £500,000 from the cost of running libraries in the Vale of Glamorgan has been out for public consultation

Vale of Glamorgan libraries face cuts

Community-run libraries are among the options as a council looks to reorganise its library services as it looks to make savings of £21m in the next three years.

A strategy aimed at slashing £500,000 from the cost of running libraries in the Vale of Glamorgan has been out for public consultation. A final version of the strategy will go before council leaders on Monday.

One of the main recommendations is the introduction of community supported or managed libraries at St Athan, Dinas Powys, Sully, Wenvoe and Rhoose. This is one of the most controversial of the proposals with opponent fearing that it could damage the library service in smaller communities in the Vale.

Meanwhile, the consultation has produced the idea of establishing “Friends Groups” at Barry, Penarth, Cowbridge and Llantwit Major. The aim is to “increase opportunities for the library service to be further embraced by the community, but also to raise funding and apply for external grants.”

Various charges at libraries are to be increased with immediate effect, while the amount of money spent on new books is to be reduced from £220,000 to £195,000.

Opening hours are also likely to be changed, with libraries opening later and closing earlier.

Neil Moore, leader of the Vale council said: “The strategy seeks to strike a balance between providing a solution to the requirement for the library service to reduce costs and having the service evolve and remain a relevant and vibrant community resource.

“The strategy sets out a challenging but realistic future for the library service in the context of the on-going pressures the on public finances.”

He continued: “I am confident that in partnership with our communities the outcome of the review will deliver the best possible service within the resources available from the council and community.”

The cuts to the library service are part of a wider strategy to make savings of nearly £21m over the next three years.

In his report to the council’s cabinet, Coun Moore says: “The savings arising from the proposed library strategy will depend to a certain extent on the detail of implementation but it is anticipated to contribute £500,000 of efficiency savings from 2015/16 towards the directorate’s current savings target. The majority of this sum, about £309,000, will come from the budget for employees.”

 

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