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Councillors Bentley and Lissimore (as members of the Cabinet of Essex County Council) declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 9(5) and left the meeting for its consideration and determination.
(a) Have Your Say!
Mark Goacher addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(5). Since 2010, 478 libraries had closed, with the loss of 40 million books and 8,000 jobs. Libraries were not an outdated relic, but were made to appear that way by cuts in funding, which leads to falls in usage which were then used to justify further cuts. He called on Council to support Councillor Cory’s motion. Education was the key to social mobility, and the free access to books for all that libraries provided was key to this. In addition they provided other valuable functions such as access to the internet and as a place for community groups to meet.
Sarah Shehadeh addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(5). She highlighted that the Council relied on residents having access to the internet in order to access services, and that libraries provided access to those who were unable to access the internet at home. The library in Mersea was vital to the community and she believed that it should be regraded from tier three to tier two and therefore remain open. The value of the excellent inter-library lending service was also stressed.
Victoria Weaver addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(5). Libraries provided a centre for the local community and provided free access to knowledge and books. They were particularly valuable to the elderly and the young. Whilst libraries did need to evolve, the modernisation argument was being used to justify continued austerity driven cuts. She urged councillors to lobby against the cuts and highlighted that were other others ways to make savings, such as moving towards a unitary authority.
(b) Library Services
It was proposed by Councillor Laws that:-
"This Council notes the review and public consultation that has been launched by Essex County Council in regards to library provision across the county, including within the borough of Colchester to meet the modern day demands of our residents. We recognise and agree that the current library buildings are outdated and need modernising.
Therefore, Colchester Borough Council pledges to work with our County Council partners to consider options around location, service access and opening hours as part of this review. We will support efforts to involve the local community in both shaping and delivering future library service provision within the borough."
Councillor J. Young proposed a main amendment as follows:-
"That the motion on Library Services be approved and adopted subject to the following amendments:
In the first paragraph:-
•
In the first sentence, the insertion of the words “with sadness,” after the word “notes”;
•
In the second sentence the deletion of the words “the current” and their replacement with the word “some” and the deletion of the words “need modernising” and their replacement with the words “should be modernised.”
In the second paragraph:-
•
In the first sentence the deletion of the words “to consider options around location, service access and opening hours as part of this review.”
•
In the second sentence the deletion of the words “We will support efforts to involve the local community in shaping and delivering” and their replacement with the words “We will ensure the local community is involved in shaping, improving and enhancing”, and the deletion of the words “within the” and their replacement with the words “across our|”."
Councillor Laws indicated that the main amendment was accepted and the motion was deemed amended accordingly. The revised wording of the motion was as follows:-
“This Council notes with sadness, the review and public consultation that has been launched by Essex County Council in regards to library provision across the county, including within the borough of Colchester to meet the modern day demands of our residents. We recognise and agree that some library buildings are outdated and should be modernised.
Therefore, Colchester Borough Council pledges to work with our County Council partners. We will ensure the local community is involved in shaping, improving and enhancing future library service provision across our borough.”
(c) Stop Essex County Council Library Closures
It was proposed by Councillor Cory that:-
"This Council notes with sadness the public consultation launched by Essex County Council to close libraries across the county, including within the borough of Colchester. Whether complete closure or transition to volunteer run services, this Council cannot accept the irreversible impact such plans have upon the social mobility and educational opportunities of our residents.
This Council believes that education and information are fundamental for individuals to be socially mobile. For centuries, Libraries have provided people with available and accessible books, information and educational resources. This historic principle is now under threat in our borough.
Colchester Borough residents access many services provided at our libraries, not just books, but free Internet, DVDs, audio texts, a range of Council Services, CAB support and much more. Libraries form a bedrock of our communities and their social fabric.
This Council believes that Essex County Council should focus on greater sharing of services with Borough, Town and Parish Councils, and other community groups interested in keeping vital libraries services available to all.
Therefore, we call upon the Leader of the Council to write directly to the County Council Cabinet Member (for Customer Services) to stop the consultation and closure plans. Furthermore, this Council calls upon Essex County Council to pursue alternative arrangements of greater service sharing with appropriate partners.
In support of Essex County Council, this Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to also write to the Secretary of State for Education and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to offer the needed resources to support the continued funding of vital library services across this County and many others."
Councillor Scordis proposed a main amendment as follows:-
"That the motion Stop Essex County Council Library Closures be approved and adopted subject to the following amendments:-
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The deletion of paragraph 4;
•
The deletion of paragraph 5 and its replacement with the following words:-
Therefore we call upon the Leader of the Council to write directly to the Leader of Essex County Council to suspend the consultation and halt the closure plans and enter into a meaningful dialogue to shape, improve and enhance library services in our Borough.
•
The deletion of paragraph 6 and its replacement with the following words:-
The Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to also write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to truly end austerity and provide local government with the resources it needs to fund vital services in the future."
Councillor Cory indicated that the main amendment was accepted and the motion was deemed amended accordingly. The revised wording of the motion was as follows:-
"This Council notes with sadness the public consultation launched by Essex County Council to close libraries across the county, including within the borough of Colchester. Whether complete closure or transition to volunteer run services, this Council cannot accept the irreversible impact such plans have upon the social mobility and educational opportunities of our residents.
This Council believes that education and information are fundamental for individuals to be socially mobile. For centuries, Libraries have provided people with available and accessible books, information and educational resources. This historic principle is now under threat in our borough.
Colchester Borough residents access many services provided at our libraries, not just books, but free Internet, DVDs, audio texts, a range of Council Services, CAB support and much more. Libraries form a bedrock of our communities and their social fabric.
Therefore, we call upon the Leader of the Council to write directly to the Leader of Essex County Council to suspend the consultation and halt the closure plans and enter into a meaningful dialogue to shape, improve and enhance library services in our Borough.
The Council calls upon the Leader of the Council to also write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Education and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to truly end austerity and provide local government with the resources it needs to fund vital services in the future."
(d) Debate and Voting
In view of the similar subject matter of the two motions, a single debate was conducted covering both motions. At the conclusion of the debate, the voting was as follows:-
The motion on Library Services was approved and adopted unanimously.
A named vote having been requested pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15(2) the voting was as follows:-
FOR: Councillors Arnold, Barber, Barton, Bourne, Buston, Chapman, Cory, Crow, Davidson, Davies, Dundas, Elliott, Ellis, Flores, Goss, Harris, Hayter, Hazell, Higgins, Jarvis, Jowers, King, Laws, Liddy, Loveland, Luxford Vaughan, J. Maclean, Moore, B. Oxford, G. Oxford, P. Oxford, Pearson, Scordis, Scott-Boutell, Warnes, Whitehead, Willetts, J. Young, T. Young, the Deputy Mayor (Cope) and the Mayor (Chillingworth).
AGAINST: None
ABSTAINED FROM VOTING: None
The motion on Stop Essex County Council Library Closures was approved and adopted (40 noted for and one abstained from voting).
A named vote having been requested pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15(2) the voting was as follows:-
FOR: Councillors Arnold, Barber, Barton, Bourne, Buston, Chapman, Cory, Crow, Davidson, Davies, Dundas, Elliott, Ellis, Flores, Goss, Harris, Hayter, Hazell, Higgins, Jarvis, King, Laws, Liddy, Loveland, Luxford Vaughan, J. Maclean, Moore, B. Oxford, G. Oxford, P. Oxford, Pearson, Scordis, Scott-Boutell, Warnes, Whitehead, Willetts, J. Young, T. Young, the Deputy Mayor (Cope) and the Mayor (Chillingworth).
AGAINST: None
ABSTAINED FROM VOTING: Councillor Jowers