Library funding turns to 'political game playing' says councillor

The funding of the library in Thatcham has been branded "political game playing by a Conservative Thatcham town councillor.

The town council has temporarily halted its voluntary revenue contributions to West Berkshire Council (WBC) for the running of the facility.

Thatcham Town Council has made these annual voluntary payments, of £24,000, since 2017 but has been withholding it until WBC capital-funded works are completed.

The library is due to receive a new disabled-access toilet and refurbished entrance area which is being paid for by WBC through its capital funding.

Thatcham Town Council pressed WBC for this work in the hope that it would reduce antisocial behaviour.

In a full council meeting held on September 26, councillors were told that the work will cost the district council £20,000 more than it had hoped.

Thatcham Town Council leader Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham North East) said it was "a strange way of financing" for WBC to request revenue contributions while undergoing its capital-funded work.

He said: "West Berkshire Council has asked us to consider a request to make a voluntary contribution towards running costs of the library whilst linking it to capital works and I propose we don’t make that contribution.

“This council said we would make a contribution if they [WBC] did the works to the toilets and that we would pay that money once we saw completion of works or works ordered in.

“That money is still on hold because we have not seen that from West Berkshire Council.

Mr Dillon, who is also leader of the West Berkshire Liberal Democrats, continued: “If the conditions of a grant are met, we should award the money.”

Councillor Steve Ardagh-Walter (Con, Thatcham Colthrop and Crookham), who is also who is also West Berkshire Council executive portfolio holder for environment and transformation, “strongly pushed back” against this.

He said: “It strikes me as unreasonable to put it mildly to say we are now changing the rules.

“We said we would withhold this revenue money until 'you' [WBC] do something about the toilet.

“Now 'you’re' doing something about the toilet we are not going to give that revenue money.

“That’s not good behaviour.”

Mr Ardagh-Walter added: “The reason we gave for withholding money a year ago was because of a toilet which is now happening.”

He asked the chamber: “Are we not reliable? Can we not stand by our word and contribute that? We have the money, let’s do it.”

But Mr Dillon said West Berkshire clearly has funding capital available and should utilise it.

He said: “I am in the mind that West Berkshire Council has funds in their capital budget, as communication to us suggests, and actually asking for revenue contributions halfway through financial year is no way for us to be able to plan to be able to deliver our own services to our own residents."

The majority of councillors voted against making this voluntary contribution.

Mr Ardagh-Walter told Newbury Weekly News: “I do hope the Liberal Democrats reconsider their decision and resume support of our local library at the earliest opportunity.

“As we all know, West Berkshire Council is facing a difficult financial situation for the coming year.

“Thatcham Town Council has plenty of cash in the bank and could easily continue the contributions which have been made for the last five years.”

He added: “This move helps nobody, and seems to be motivated purely by political game playing.”

The library is also supported by a voluntary Thatcham-based group, Friends of Thatcham Library.