What will Suffolk council library takeover mean?
Library services in Suffolk are set to be taken back under control by the county council on Sunday. An independent charity had been running them for the previous 12 years. What will the change mean for people?
Why is this happening?
Suffolk Libraries had run the service since 2012 across 45 locations.Talks to renew its contract with the council started in November but broke down in February.Philip Faircloth-Mutton, the Conservative councillor responsible for libraries, said he "no longer had confidence in Suffolk Libraries' financial viability or management".Bruce Leeke, chief executive of Suffolk Libraries, said his team was "incredibly shocked" and "disappointed".The council said the charity had proposed unacceptable terms, including reducing opening hours by 30%.Faircloth-Mutton also raised concerns about the cost of the charity's head office and senior managers.Mr Leeke responded: "We currently have one of the best run library services in the country which has saved millions of pounds of taxpayers' money."
What was the reaction?
About 23,000 people signed a petition opposing the move and protests were held outside the council's headquarters and some libraries. Rachel Wood, a library user from Newmarket, said she was "horrified" by the decision."We must not let Suffolk County Council throw something away that has helped so many people," she said.
Opposition councillors opposed the Conservative-led council's decision.The Green, Liberal Democrat and independent group said a public consultation should have been held, while Labour questioned how the change would save money.Unison supported the council's decision and said services were best run and delivered by the authority.Winston Dorsett, Unison's eastern regional organiser, said the union wanted to ensure "terms and conditions remain protected".
Will libraries be closing?
The council says no, they have no plans to close any of the libraries and opening hours will not change. Faircloth- Mutton said that services would be "as usual"."Sites will be open, mobile library vans will be touring our villages and it will be the service that people know and love across Suffolk."
What could change?
Branding appears to be the main thing. Logos are likely to change, as are some contact details like email addresses. The council said there would be some new social media accounts with others rebranded and there would be a new website.People will not need a new library card, their current one will work, however when they expire different ones will be issued.It said there would be an investment of "£200,000 in mobile libraries, with a further £157,000 for new books".
Will jobs be lost?
Potentially. The council says that staff contracts are being moved over, so employees will now work for the authority.Faircloth-Mutton said that the jobs of frontline staff would be "maintained", however there would be a review of the "back office in general".He said that would involve "systems, processes and staff".When asked by the BBC if a review would potentially mean job losses, he said: "A review is a review."
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