Agenda item

This Council asks the Cabinet member for communities and partnerships to work with Essex County Council, parish/town councils, voluntary organisations and residents to explore ways in which the library service in Uttlesford is maintained and enhanced, in light of the county council’s major consultation on the proposed future strategy for the county’s libraries.

Councillor Sell introduced the motion on notice he had submitted.  The motion was as follows: 

This Council asks the Cabinet member for communities and partnerships to work with Essex County Council, parish/town councils, voluntary organisations and residents to explore ways in which the library service in Uttlesford is maintained and enhanced, in light of the county council’s major consultation on the proposed future strategy for the county’s libraries.

Councillor Sell said libraries had been important to him throughout his life, and he would like this service to be available for future generations.  He had been surprised and angered by the County Council’s proposals.  He agreed a review of the county’s libraries was necessary, but libraries should be supported as vibrant community hubs, which was what Stansted’s library was.  It would be a travesty of justice if Stansted were to lose its library.

Councillor Ranger seconded the motion, and said he was happy to do so.  He would be happy to attend meetings requested by parish councils with the users of the libraries at Stansted and Thaxted to consider what could be done. 

Councillor Fairhurst said closing libraries came at the cost of the vulnerable, as for some people, not having access to a library meant not being able to get a qualification. 

Councillor Foley said he had received a letter from a teacher in his ward, stating the closure of the library in Thaxted would deny access to a computer to people in Thaxted and the surrounding villages, in particular in terms of pre-school resources.  Closing the library would discriminate against those who did not have a computer, which would mean their alternative would be to travel to Saffron Walden.  Having to make a journey discriminated against those without a car, those who were old, and those who were disabled.  Thaxted library was a hub, and a model use of the space and should be supported. 

Councillor Fairhurst said libraries fulfilled social functions, as not only did they provide access to the sort of knowledge which once imparted stayed with one, but they were places to congregate. 

Councillor Rolfe said he supported the motion, but the debated needed to be broadened as life had changed.  There were big communities in Uttlesford such as Felsted and Hatfield Heath which had not got libraries, and the question of costs could not be avoided.  He agreed with much of what Daniel Brett had said, although it was important to say that Children’s Services in Essex were very highly rated.  This was an incredibly expensive service to provide, and councils had to decide priorities.  He took community hubs and libraries very seriously and the Council would do everything it could to work with the parish councils. 

Councillor Lodge said all agreed on the importance of libraries, but he pledged that after May 2019 all libraries would be kept open.

The motion being put to the vote it was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED  this Council asks the Cabinet member for communities and partnerships to work with Essex County Council, parish/town councils, voluntary organisations and residents to explore ways in which the library service in Uttlesford is maintained and enhanced, in light of the county council’s major consultation on the proposed future strategy for the county’s libraries.