Mark Hawthorne: Library closures show how hard times are
Mark Hawthorne, the Leader of Gloucestershire County Council explains the reasons behind the authority's plans for libraries:
LIBRARIES are a really hard issue for me. I've spent a lot of time recently talking to library users, staff and Gloucestershire people about libraries – and it is clear just how much they are valued.
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Leader: Mark Hawthorne
We have seen a passionate and eloquent campaign to oppose closures run by librarians, authors and members of the public.
But, these are tough times – and we have to make difficult decisions. The county council spends around £400m each year. From that £400m, we have to find £114m worth of savings.
The first thing we did was to cut back office costs. Over the previous five years, we made over £40m in savings from that area – and in the next four we will do the same again. That isn't easy, it means one in six staff – and one in three managers –lose their jobs. But that still leaves some savings in the services people use.
My first priority was protecting the most vulnerable – so we ruled out cash cuts to the social care budget. Because that is such a large proportion of our budget that means everything else we do – including libraries – has to take a fair share of the savings.
Despite that, libraries aren't being singled out – and the savings we are making aren't disproportionate. Some library campaigners have said we're cutting libraries by 42 per cent – that's not right. Overall local government grant is being cut by around 28 per cent and the savings we propose in libraries are 28.5 per cent.
It is also not right to say any libraries will have to close as a result We've said all along that we want them to stay open, but for some to be run differently, with the support of volunteers. Groups have come forward to talk to us about taking over the running of libraries in the small number we are offering to the community.
I know Lib Dem Jeremy Hilton, is now arguing for no savings from libraries – saying the council can pay for them with reserves. Reserves are council savings for emergencies.
Mr Hilton says something different, behind closed doors, to what he says in the Citizen. At a council meeting in November he said: "There are some libraries in certain parts of Gloucestershire that could be closed" and "I agree there is a need to slim down the library network".
I don't want to see libraries closed – I want them to continue to succeed. We know how important they are – and that's why we're working to make sure they stay open into the future. Like every council service, they need to play their part in making savings – but, with the support of communities, no library need close.
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by Parkie, Bream
Friday, April 01 2011, 2:56PM
“Toxic Tories out out out...
The WI will eat Hawthorne alive - fingers crossed”
by Dee, Gloucestershire
Thursday, February 17 2011, 8:42AM
“I was at the meeting yesterday. Throughout, Mark Hawthorne was grinning and chuckling, whilst his Tory colleagues 'hear heared', clapped, gloated and slapped each other on the back. It was sickening. I don't believe for a second that they or he 'regret' these cuts to our libraries, youth services or any other public service. They're presiding over the harshest budget and cuts in memory - whatever your view on the necessity of that, they should at least have the good grace to not appear quite so happy about it!”
by Alfonso, Gloucester
Thursday, February 17 2011, 6:05AM
“This man's political ambition means that he will support whatever dogma is being pedalled by the Conservative led coalition.”
by Maggie33, Gloucester
Wednesday, February 16 2011, 10:34PM
“Councillor Hawthorn is being more than economical with the truth. His plans involve closing 5 mobile library services. Many villages in our rural county will be left without a library service, especially when further cuts to bus services mean people won't be able to get to their nearest main library.
He wants community groups in the poorest part of the county run their own library - to find the money to pay for books, building maintenance costs, IT coast etc, as well as find volunteers to run it. How is that going to work?
Yes, cuts have to be made. It would make sense to consider closing less used libraries. So why is he going to double the opening hours of a poorly used library like Stow on the Wold while at the same time getting rid of a well used library like Hesters Way. There is no logic to his plans. If cuts are to be made they should be based on sensible criteria that include use of libraries and needs of local communities.”
by Voter, Everywhere
Wednesday, February 16 2011, 9:02PM
“Unemployment up, Inflation up, Interest rates going up, taxes up, public services cut. Sounds like your typical Conservative government. Now does everyone remember why they spent so long in opposition?”
by FJ, Glos
Wednesday, February 16 2011, 8:23PM
“Well to be fair to Tory voters, people did vote for the Tories when they said they would reduce the deficit, but without cutting front-line services, and they would put more of the budget into local hands, not make massive cuts to council budgets (Although why people in Stroud voted out David Drew, a MP who put Stroud first and his party second, and replaced him with our present MP who has done nothing but toe the party line, is beyond me).
And as for lib-dem voters - whose party was running pre-election promising to invest in public services, cut slower and less - a bit like labour in fact - many lib dem voters were former labour voters who had grown dissatisfied with Labour's record on things like civil liberties and the Iraq war.”
by Parkie, Gloucestershire
Wednesday, February 16 2011, 7:15PM
“Richard Grahame and Mark Harper dont deserve to be re-elected again, they have done NOTHING for us”
by maurpods, gloucester
Wednesday, February 16 2011, 7:12PM
“Well dont blame me ,you all know what to do at the local elections in may get the tories out we have our chance ,but the damage will be done ,i bet Richard Grahame will only serve 1 term .”
by Dinsdale, Gloucester
Wednesday, February 16 2011, 7:05PM
“Well I dont blame the Lib Dems or the Torys I blame the voters at the General Election who voted and let the Torys back it too power.
Im amazed that before the Election the message boards was full of people saying we must get rid of Labour and let in the The Conservatives to sort out the Labour Government Mess.
Well its all a bit late to moan now and all that tatical voting people did to keep labour out just ended with this Tory/Lib coalition.”
by Parkie, Gloucestershire
Wednesday, February 16 2011, 6:32PM
“Do not worry Hawthorne at the next election you will be remembered and all your nasty Tory chums, enjoy while you can!
At no point was this a fair democratic consultation you made up your mind from day one - you bleat about protecting the elderly & vulnerable members of our society but the truth is you dont give a dame about any of them, talk around Shire Hall is that you fancy being a Tory MP , I actually think you could become an MP but ignorant thugs like you join the BNP!”