Legality of council's library proposals remains unclear
Some correspondence released into public domain - but it still leaves questions unanswered
WEST Berkshire Council has refused to release details of what was discussed at an internal board meeting about its proposals to close eight of the district’s nine libraries.
It is also remaining tight-lipped over what legal advice it was given regarding the controversial plans.
However, following a Freedom of Information request from a campaigner, the council has released some of the correspondence between itself and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), though some emails have not been made available and key pieces of information are blacked out in several others.
While the email exchanges do provide some transparency, it does little to answer questions as to whether the council’s original proposals were legal.
Under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act, local councils have a statutory duty to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service.
Campaigners have been arguing that keeping just one library open could not be considered either comprehensive or efficient.
What the email exchanges do reveal, though, is that the DCMS emailed the council on February 22 saying that, while it had not received any formal complaints, it had received correspondence from concerned West Berkshire residents about the potential closures.
In the email, the DCMS says that the council’s public consultation only contained ‘limited details’ about the proposals, the impact and the next steps.
The DCMS also advised the council it would ‘monitor development carefully’.
After discussions with the DCMS and following feedback from the public consultation, the council decided to use £475,000 ‘transitional funding’ to give six of the eight libraries facing closure a temporary reprieve.
However, two libraries – at Theale and Wash Common – are due to close subject to a detailed Needs Assessment being completed.
In a recent public meeting, West Berkshire Council’s executive member for culture, Hilary Cole, admitted that the council had taken a risk by only proposing to leave one library open, but said it had been given no choice because of government funding cuts.
In a report published earlier this year, the council’s library services manager, Mike Brooks, said: “Discussions with the DCMS revealed the need for a detailed Needs Assessment to inform any changes to the way libraries operate.
“The council will fail in its equality duty, and also statutory duty, to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service under the Public Libraries and Museums Act if it proceeds with a major reduction in its libraries service without due process.
“I recommend the proposal be reconsidered so that libraries are retained, pending the outcome and recommendations of an independent Needs Assessment.”