Agenda item

Councillor Alison Moore moved the motion in her name.

Councillor Reuben Thompstone moved an amendment in his name. Debate ensued.

Councillor Anne Hutton moved an amendment in her name.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Reuben Thompstone was moved. Votes were declared as follows:

For: 31

Against: 31

Abstain: 0

Absent: 1

The Worshipful the Mayor requested the Monitoring Officer to note that he had indicated in error that he would use his casting vote against the motion and asked that his casting vote to be recorded in favour of the amendment. The amendment was declared to be carried.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Anne Hutton’s was put to the vote and declared as follows:

For: 31

Against: 31

Abstain: 0

Absent: 1

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote against the amendment. The amendment was declared lost. 

Upon the amendment in the name of Councillor Anne Hutton being put to the vote, at least ten members called for a formal division on the voting.  Upon the vote being taken, the results of the division were declared as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote and voted against the amendment.  The amendment was declared lost.

Council voted on the substantive motion as amended by Councillor Reuben Thompstone’s amendment. Votes were declared as follows:

For: 31

Against: 31

Abstain: 0

Absent: 1

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote for the substantive motion as amended.

The substantive motion as amended was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

Council recognises that councillors and residents across Barnet strongly value their local libraries for their contributions to culture, literacy and the wider community.

 
Council notes the proposal to cut the Library Service budget by £2.85 million over the next three years, and the consultation on the different options to achieve this which include, in various combinations:

• closing Mill Hill Library, East Finchley Library, Childs Hill Library, Osidge Library, East Barnet Library and South Friern Library;
• reducing floor space by up to 90% at many libraries;
• cutting the hours libraries are staffed by up to 60%;
• increasing opening hours for all Barnet libraries through the use of newer technology;
• the use of community library models to retain services with contributions and/or participation from community organisations;
• options raised by contributors to the survey other than the proposed options.

Council recognises the strength of public opinion on these options.

Council notes that the proposed budget cuts do not begin until 2016/17 and therefore LB Barnet has time to re-consider the plans. Council further notes that, given the significant public response to the surveys, public meetings, consultation meetings at the libraries and discussions with officers, a major contribution has been made by members of the public to engage in the review of the library service. 
 
Council therefore calls on the CELS committee to consider carefully the report due following the consultation and, if necessary, call on officers to conduct further consultation with residents to ensure a viable and effective library service continues to be sustainable for the future. Further work may include:

·         maximising the use of alternative funding streams such as developer contributions and government digital investment funds;

·         more ambitious and creative income generation, working with local businesses and community organisations;

·          developing libraries as community hubs for skills, culture, learning and improving community cohesion and literacy;

·         drawing on best practice models from London boroughs and across the country and emerging government responses to the independent Sieghart report on England's public libraries.

Council also asks that the local community, including library users groups, and staff continue to be involved in any consultation.