Suffolk County Council libraries takeover backed as formal challenge request launched

Leaders have backed the council's library service takeover but a formal challenge request has been launched.

On Tuesday, members of Suffolk County Council's cabinet voted on taking the library service in-house from June.

Libraries have been under the control of Suffolk Libraries since 2012 when the county council surrendered the service due to austerity cuts.

Cllr Philip Faircloth-Mutton, who led the takeover, said the council had been left with no other choice after talks with the charity broke down last month.

He said: "Sincere admiration is not enough to safeguard the future of our library service and unfortunately we must now consider insourcing it.

"Our primary goal is to safeguard the library service and ensure its long-term sustainability."

The plans received strong backlash, however, with protesters gathering outside the council offices and several from across the county registering to speak once discussions began in the chamber.

Several protests took place in the weeks leading up to the decision, reflecting the strength of feeling shared in a petition which reached close to 23,000 signatures.

'Lost confidence'

Cllr Faircloth-Mutton told members the council had been left with no other choice after failed procurement and direct award processes.

He said the council had lost confidence in the charity's ability to manage and forecast its finances after finding it was spending a third of its annual bill on head office costs, figures which Suffolk Libraries strongly rejects.

On top of this, he said the charity's proposals to cut opening hours by an average of 30 per cent could not be accepted.

Council papers state libraries in Wickham Market and Oulton Broad could be cut by as much as 60 per cent.

Cllr Faircloth-Mutton promised there would be no library closures, reduction of their opening hours, or cuts to the service's frontline staff after the takeover was complete.

He accused Suffolk Libraries of trying to get the authority to 'roll over' and agree to its demands with an 'unshakeable belief' the charity was the only option.

Cllr Faircloth-Mutton said he was told to 'give us the money and get out of our way' by a Suffolk Libraries patron.

Several councillors said the decision was tough but voted unanimously to back the takeover.

On the charity's side, Bruce Leeke, its CEO, said the decision was rushed and staff, volunteers and supporters were left devastated.

He said: “We have always stood by our belief that the Suffolk Libraries model offers the most efficient, inclusive and impactful library service possible. We are grateful to the thousands of people across Suffolk who have backed our fight.

“I am incredibly proud that throughout the uncertainty of the past six months, our staff have carried on showing the spirit and determination to do the best for the people of Suffolk which embodies what Suffolk Libraries has always stood for."

Mr Leeke added the charity would work to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible.

What now?

The county council is legally required to provide a library service, with the takeover to be complete by June 1.

Cllr Faircloth-Mutton said it would cost up to £1.8 million to bring libraries into council control but added the service would be on budget from the second year.

Despite the approval, however, councillors from the opposing Labour and GLI Groups have both invoked the 'call-in' process to formally challenge the decision.

Some of the grounds for the separate challenges included arguing the county council could have extended the Suffolk Libraries contract for a brief period while it retendered the service, the financial costs to take over the service were not scoped properly, and information was received too late.

Both groups have not yet been notified of whether a decision has been made to approve the call-ins.