Latest news with #countycouncil
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
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 to renew its contract with the council started in November but broke down in 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 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 Green, Liberal Democrat and independent group said a public consultation should have been held, while Labour questioned how the change would save supported the council's decision and said services were best run and delivered by the 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 will not need a new library card, their current one will work, however when they expire different ones will be 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 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." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Worcestershire's Reform UK councillors move to elect leader
Worcestershire's Reform UK councillors will meet today to select their first leader, as they look to secure control of the county least three contenders are expected to put themselves forward for the top job, including former Conservatives Bill Hopkins, Joanne Monk and Alan its success in the local elections, Reform UK now has 27 council seats, the most of any party. However, the group remains two short of an overall must decide whether to form a minority administration or form an agreement with another party. The county's new Conservative leader, Adam Kent, said his group would consider all options. Runners and riders Of Reform's group, only councillors Hopkins, Monk and Amos have served on the county council has their own position on how Reform should form an administration."Official policy is that we are not doing any coalitions or any deals. Our intention is to implement our manifesto," said councillor Amos."Obviously the reality is we're two votes short. So we will do whatever we can, within that context, to implement our policies." The former Labour MP was a Conservative councillor from 2015 to 2024. After leaving the party to become an independent, he joined Reform earlier this year."Being realistic and sensible, that doesn't mean you can't have discussions with other people, arrangements or understandings."While a coalition agreement would require a formal deal between parties, a minority administration could allow Reform to pass decisions on a vote-by-vote basis, provided it could secure at least two extra votes or abstentions from other councillor Amos ruled out any deal with the county's Conservative group."We're there to replace them. We are not there to prop them up." Since last Saturday, talks have been taking place between all the parties."What I have experienced… is how murky politics can be," said Bill Hopkins, another leadership contender, who insisted any talks should be transparent."People are sick to death of politics… we're straightforward, nothing hidden. I've got no sides and what you see is what you get," he said.A former UKIP, Brexit Party and Tory councillor, Hopkins left the Conservatives at the beginning of 2024. "My thought is that we will operate as a minority," he said."But in essence, what I want to have is a coalition, and I want the best people on their merit from each of the parties to join us together to form the next council.""Voters turned to Reform because they are tired of backroom deals," said councillor Monk, who defected from the Conservatives in March and who declined to be interviewed."We should govern as a minority administration, with courage and conviction. We will offer an open hand to other parties and groups on issues where we can agree," she said in a Sunday, Reform UK's regional director Pete Durnell told the BBC's Politics Midlands programme the party would work with other groups. As well as Worcestershire, it has a majority in Staffordshire and is the largest group in Warwickshire. In Shropshire, one of the party's newly-elected councillors has already quit, describing it as a 'cult'. Potential partners Despite Reform being close to a majority, talks are also understood to have taken place between the county's other parties: the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Labour."It is no overall control, so anything can happen," said one source."I think everyone is starting to talk to everyone… with lots of attempted horse trading."Before defeat in last Thursday's local elections, the Conservatives had been in control of the county council for 20 Tories now have just 12 councillors, though remain the second largest party on the group's new leader, Adam Kent, said he expected Reform UK to lead the council and did not rule out a power-sharing agreement."We've got to deliver for the people of Worcestershire. I don't think it's just Reform," he said."I think everything is on the table. There's opportunities in all directions really." He stressed his priority would be ensuring residents' key issues were addressed, including public transport, flood alleviation schemes and improvements to children's services and fostering."There wasn't really a local manifesto from Reform. It was all on national policies. So nobody really knows what they stand for locally," he said."As soon as we know who the leader of Reform is, it'll be clearer what we can do."Any power-sharing agreement between parties must be reached before the County Council's Annual Meeting on 22 the local authority's constitution, councillors must appoint a leader at that session, although they can subsequently remove them and appoint another. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
