Library Review @ North Area Committee

The minutes documents for this meeting have been published on the City Councils website (click here). It is very unfortunately that neither Sir Peter Brown (the Conservative Cabinet Member responsible for Libraries) or any Officers from the County Council were able to present themselves to the Area Committee to address local concerns.

There is a lot of local feeling on the issues of Libraries that they should have put in an appearance to address.

The minutes from the Libaries segment of the meeting are;


"The committee received an oral report from Councillor Wilkins regarding his understanding of the current position concerning County Council library services.

The County Cabinet considered a budget proposal 25 January 2011, which suggested that 2 of 5 libraries in Cambridge (excluding Central Library) could be closed in order to cut costs. This could affect Milton Road, Rock Road and Arbury Court Libraries in particular.

A Library Service Review Report has been written setting out actions, proposals and expected cost savings.

Members of the North Area Committee and public expressed grave reservations concerning the proposed library service cuts set out in the Library Service Review Report, and expected impact on local communities. The consensus of opinion was that libraries were important for education and learning, the City could not afford to lose these facilities. Meetings at local libraries were signposted to muster support to voice concerns about the Library Service Review Report proposals.

The Committee agreed to bring back an agenda item to the next Area Committee on library services to:

(i)  Express concern about Library Service Review Report proposals.

(ii)  Point out the differing needs of rural and urban areas for library services, as the County Council appear to be taking a generic approach.

(iii)  Discuss land use protection afforded in the Cambridge Local Plan (2006), and whether this has an impact on libraries."

As always if you have any questions or concerns related to libraries please get in touch with me (County Councillor Andy Pellew) and I'll be able to update you. It is also my intention to be at the next Friends of Arbury Library meeting in order to answer any further questions.