Sixty jobs at risk in Buckinghamshire library cuts plan

12:02pm Tuesday 12th April 2011 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

Sixty jobs at risk in library cuts plan Sixty jobs at risk in library cuts plan

SIXTY part-time jobs are at risk after a council agreed to withdraw £500,000 from 14 small libraries yesterday.

Much of the reduced spend is likely to come from job cuts – meaning up to 60 part-time staff face redundancy or a move to a different post in one of the county's main libraries.

Bosses stressed that compulsory redundancies would be a 'very last resort', saying many staff could be offered new positions.

Paula Buck, head of learning and culture at Buckinghamshire County Council, said: “We'll be starting a full staff consultation. They've been very very patient through the process, it's been a very unsettling time.”

Community groups and volunteers have been asked to come forward to help run the 14 libraries, with county bosses looking to phase the process over two years.

More than 1,000 people have shown an interest in volunteering across the county. The council said it will 'put all its effort' into avoiding closures and each library would be given different levels of support depending on community involvement, size and usage.

Bosses envisage that some of the bigger libraries of the 14 could retain some paid roles.

The 'bigger and busier' library in Gerrards Cross looks set to be one of the first to make the switch to a community model in the autumn, with heavy involvement from the parish council.

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Villagers in Chalfont St Peter have been 'less positive' about the plans, but bosses said they were still confident a 'partnership model' could be achieved.

There are 'differing views' in Great Missenden, but the council said there is potential for another organisation to share the library building.

Discussions are ongoing in Flackwell Heath, though there is some uncertainty about whether the library can retain its current base at Carrington Junior School. Part of the space may be used for school meals in future but county bosses said the library could still share the building.

Castlefield Library, which is less well-used than the others, looks likely to be given the most county support. Bosses are in talks about forging a partnership with the community centre.

Comments (8)

12:07pm Tue 12 Apr 11

yog says...

Meanwhile the Conservatives are happy to spend millions on an Incinerator.

It is all a question of priorities.

Conservatives are happy to close youth clubs and libraries rather than scrap the incinerator and improve recycling instead.
Meanwhile the Conservatives are happy to spend millions on an Incinerator. It is all a question of priorities. Conservatives are happy to close youth clubs and libraries rather than scrap the incinerator and improve recycling instead. yog

12:25pm Tue 12 Apr 11

Welwyn Dowd says...

Conservatives and LibDems in partnership. Why whinge? People voted for this, now they've got it. A coalition government united in the common cause of shutting down public services. Libraries. Children's Centres, Day Care, Sure Start, all going as Tory and LibDem councillors shed crocodile tears. They love every minute of it.
Conservatives and LibDems in partnership. Why whinge? People voted for this, now they've got it. A coalition government united in the common cause of shutting down public services. Libraries. Children's Centres, Day Care, Sure Start, all going as Tory and LibDem councillors shed crocodile tears. They love every minute of it. Welwyn Dowd

12:57pm Tue 12 Apr 11

yog says...

There are NO Lib Dem Councils shutting Sure start centres.

Labour Councils on the other hand are closing them deliberately to score political points. That is the shameful record of Labour Councils
There are NO Lib Dem Councils shutting Sure start centres. Labour Councils on the other hand are closing them deliberately to score political points. That is the shameful record of Labour Councils yog

2:13pm Tue 12 Apr 11

Welwyn Dowd says...

LibDem Kingston on Thames, closing Sure Start. LibDem Hull cutting over 50% of Sure Start. Northumberland, Oldham, NE Lincs, Newcastle all LibDem, all slashing Sure Start & Children's Centres. Tory/LibDem Wycombe and Bucks are already set to follow.
LibDem Kingston on Thames, closing Sure Start. LibDem Hull cutting over 50% of Sure Start. Northumberland, Oldham, NE Lincs, Newcastle all LibDem, all slashing Sure Start & Children's Centres. Tory/LibDem Wycombe and Bucks are already set to follow. Welwyn Dowd

5:05pm Tue 12 Apr 11

yog says...

More lies from the Labour deficit deniers.

Kingston on Thames was not a sure start centre.

Newcastle hoping not to close any despite having to make staff redundant

Opening hours are being cut in areas to help clear the debt Gordon Brown left behind but unlike Labour Councils Lib Dems are protecting those most vulnerable.

Perhaps Welwyn Dowd you would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the financial mess your bitter Labour party left this country in?
More lies from the Labour deficit deniers. Kingston on Thames was not a sure start centre. Newcastle hoping not to close any despite having to make staff redundant Opening hours are being cut in areas to help clear the debt Gordon Brown left behind but unlike Labour Councils Lib Dems are protecting those most vulnerable. Perhaps Welwyn Dowd you would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the financial mess your bitter Labour party left this country in? yog

10:14am Wed 13 Apr 11

Linnick says...

Oh please! All the tories do is bang on about the mess they have been left to deal with by labour. That seems to be where half their energy is spent!
Oh please! All the tories do is bang on about the mess they have been left to deal with by labour. That seems to be where half their energy is spent! Linnick

10:21am Wed 13 Apr 11

dtap says...

yog wrote:
More lies from the Labour deficit deniers. Kingston on Thames was not a sure start centre. Newcastle hoping not to close any despite having to make staff redundant Opening hours are being cut in areas to help clear the debt Gordon Brown left behind but unlike Labour Councils Lib Dems are protecting those most vulnerable. Perhaps Welwyn Dowd you would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the financial mess your bitter Labour party left this country in?
"New" Labour (Tories in all but name, incidentally) may have been wrong to bail out the banks; but it`s the banks who really deserve our opprobrium - after all, the ("official") Tories pledged to match Labour`s spending plans all down the line. No, the Tory knives now being plunged into the backs of local, vital services have far more to do with their deep, instinctive hatred of the welfare state and the NHS than a genuine attempt to balance the deficit or create a "Big Society" (what piffle). This is still a rich country, never believe otherwise.
[quote][p][bold]yog[/bold] wrote: More lies from the Labour deficit deniers. Kingston on Thames was not a sure start centre. Newcastle hoping not to close any despite having to make staff redundant Opening hours are being cut in areas to help clear the debt Gordon Brown left behind but unlike Labour Councils Lib Dems are protecting those most vulnerable. Perhaps Welwyn Dowd you would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the financial mess your bitter Labour party left this country in?[/p][/quote]"New" Labour (Tories in all but name, incidentally) may have been wrong to bail out the banks; but it`s the banks who really deserve our opprobrium - after all, the ("official") Tories pledged to match Labour`s spending plans all down the line. No, the Tory knives now being plunged into the backs of local, vital services have far more to do with their deep, instinctive hatred of the welfare state and the NHS than a genuine attempt to balance the deficit or create a "Big Society" (what piffle). This is still a rich country, never believe otherwise. dtap

7:01pm Wed 13 Apr 11

Katydid says...

I'd like to point out that a volunteer, however willing, is unlikely to be able to provide the same service as a trained and experienced librarian. It's not all date-stamping novels for bored housewives!

It's an important job, to help people to find out things for themselves: not just children and older students, but everyone who needs help with anything. (Or maybe this sort of 'dumbing down' is to stop us being able to find out things?)
I'd like to point out that a volunteer, however willing, is unlikely to be able to provide the same service as a trained and experienced librarian. It's not all date-stamping novels for bored housewives! It's an important job, to help people to find out things for themselves: not just children and older students, but everyone who needs help with anything. (Or maybe this sort of 'dumbing down' is to stop us being able to find out things?) Katydid

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