Save Old Town Library Campaign

BOOK FUND 2012

Shaun Smith of Swindon's Library Service responded on 18th January to my query about the proposed 15% cut to the Book Fund.

Please click here to read the article which alerted us in the Swindon Advertiser on 11th January 2012

Shaun confirms in his response that he has undertaken work, using CIPFA statistics, to compare Swindon’s spending on books with other library authorities in our area and nationally.

His conclusions are as follows :

"The results show us to compare favourably with our neighbouring authorities and with the other English unitary authorities in the financial year 2010/11

"For example, Swindon’s expenditure per 1000 population on all library materials in 2010/11 was Ł2,222. This was the 6th highest figure of the 43 English unitary authorities listed and compares favourably to our neighbours in Oxfordshire (Ł2194), Wiltshire (Ł1174), Gloucestershire (Ł731) Somerset (Ł932) and West Berkshire (Ł1562)

"Of course, if we reduce our stock fund by 15% as proposed, the overall figure per 1000 population will also fall (to Ł1889) but this figure would still compare favourably with other authorities, and would maintain Swindon’s position as one of the higher spending library authorities on books per capita, especially as many other authorities are also proposing cuts to their stock funds.

"This position has been achieved by enhancing and protecting the stock fund over a long period of time – this is the first reduction in the stock fund for many years, and we feel that we can maintain the quality of stock provided by ensuring that the stock we do have is effectively managed and circulated to ensure maximum use and value for money."

[ Shaun attached more detailed figures showing expenditure per 1000 population for different categories of stock for 2010/11. Send us an e-mail if you wish to receive these. He invites us to contact him if we have any queries. ]

QUESTION TO CABINET : 20 APRIL 2011

Shirley Burnham :
Question
In light of the new Leader of Suffolk County Council's decision this week to reconsider their controversial strategy for the privatisation of services, including Libraries, will the Lead Member, her cabinet colleagues and the Chief Librarian confirm that Swindon also intends to reject this "option" for Swindon's Public Library Service, whether or not it is recommended in the Ł45-Ł55K consultants report to which only they are privy ?

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Leisure :
Answer
Thank you for your question. We are carrying out a thorough and robust options appraisal on not just libraries but also leisure, culture and parks. This is an entirely different approach to Suffolk CC and it is difficult to comment until this work has been completed. The Council will recommend the best option that protects and improves services for the community.

Supplementary Question
Are cabinet members privy to the consultant’s recommendations for the library service ?
Answer : No, not yet.

COUNCIL MEETING : 14 APRIL 2011

In response to a Labour motion re Libraries :

(1) A commitment from the Tory administration that no libraries will close this year and that certain libraries will have their opening hours extended.
(2) In answer to a question from Labour to the portfolio holder, Coun Fionuala Foley : could they guarantee that Swindon Library service would not be privatised ? Councillor Foley responded - "not if it was up to me". [But it is understood that Councillor Foley will soon be relinquishing her Libraries portfolio]

Swindon's Library Strategy will go before cabinet on Wednesday 20th April 2011 where it will be approved.

Major Concern
Part of that Strategy is the "options appraisal" on the "future management" of the service. That is the subject of a Ł45K external consultancy report, to date unpublished. On the basis of its recommendations, a decision to privatise or not is likely to be made by Swindon's cabinet some time in June.

Letter to ROBERT BUCKLAND MP from ED VAIZEY MP :
29 MARCH 2011

Robert Buckland MP contacted Ed Vaizey MP, the Culture Minister, further to a query from Shirley about the status of the 1964 Libraries Act. Mr Buckland has kindly sent us the Minister's letter. To read the letter, dated 29th March 2011, please request it via the 'Contact Us' page.