Radical reforms likely to save £10m library funds

Jan 16 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

THE future of many libraries across Wirral could be under threat as part of a radical “root and branch” review of the borough’s cultural services department.

Around £10m a year must be saved from the department’s £360m budget and consultants have been working for several months to identify savings and ways of bringing the services up to date.

Last night cultural services cabinet member Cllr Bob Moon said the report, which had been due before Christmas, was now unlikely to come to cabinet until next month.

He said it would provide a basis for “widespread consultation” on how services such as libraries will be made available in future.

Cllr Moon suggested it could mean sweeping changes and said: “It’s going to be quite a radical review. It has to be.

“We can’t just keep cutting back year after year and trying to maintain the services.”

He said future plans for sites such as the borough’s 24 libraries are closely “tied up with our assets and accommodation strategy” meaning the authority is trying to make the most efficient use of the buildings and land it owns.

He cited Halton borough where some libraries are housed in buildings with Surestart, fitness centres and community rooms, and said they had been working with social services to see if they could use parts of some of the buildings.

The department is also being forced to assess its leisure centres and swimming pools, which are in competition with privately-run fitness centres and gyms.

Cllr Moon said: “Should we compete with fitness centres or provide something for more vulnerable people – but there are the economics of that to consider.”

The report, which follows months of consultations already carried out with staff and those using leisure services, will outline what facilities are being used at the moment, when and by whom.

Cllr Moon said: “The report will be saying things, for example, how many libraries does Wirral need?

“The report will also ask how far are people prepared to travel to sports centres.”

In December 2006 council leader Steve Foulkes said the authority would be investing nearly £4m in 2007/8 to stabilise and protect Cultural and Leisure Services.

He said the aim was to “allow the fullest possible examination of all the options open to us to create a vibrant and exciting new service for the future”.

WORK has also just been started on the repair of Birkenhead Central Library, whose future was in doubt after broken skylights led to much of the building being closed to the public since last summer.

The library is one of those which appears under threat.

Despite councillors finding the £200,000 needed to repair the broken skylights and further monies being allocated to repair electrical problems, Director of regeneration Alan Stennard said last November the library would still not be “fit for purpose”.

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