Future Library Provision in Kirklees

At the Kirklees Cabinet meeting of 22 September 2015, Labour Cabinet Member Cllr Graham Turner presented the Future Library Provision for the Kirklees District. It came after months of public and cross party consultation.

The objectives were always clear: Preserve as much service as possible; find new and innovative ways of doing things; work closer with communities; provide as many access points as possible.

These savings have been achieved through a review of senior management and modernising the service (pdf). 

The belief is that the proposals put forward achieve these objectives, but cannot be met without the continued hard work of staff, supportive volunteers and community groups.

Here you can see the presentation of the proposals in full.

 

Libraries Markets Typo

A small mistake in the Reporter Group Newspapers, but a big difference, whilst there is a Labour proposal to close loss making markets in Batley and Birstal, there is no proposal to close Batley or Birstal Libraries.

Kirklees Libraries: Public Consultation

The following letter, written by Cllr Graham Turner, was published by the Huddersfield Examiner, on 26 January 2015.

 

Dear Sir

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all members of the public that are concerned by the proposed cuts in the library service budget to get in involved in the recently launched public consultation on the future of our library service.

This consultation which started on the 19^th  of January will run for 12 weeks finishing on the 10^th of April.

Paper copies are available in all our libraries, but I would encourage those with internet access to complete it on line in the warmth and comfort of their homes, as its cheaper and we get the results much quicker the link is http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/libraryconsultation

We will also be doing some street interviews and telephone research, all libraries have  meet the manger events planned as well.

This is by far the biggest consultation we have ever undertaken and its results will help us as we re configure the service in light of the cuts to our budget.

I along with our hard working and committed staff and local communities  are doing all  we can to ensure that we provide the best possible service we can, within a much lower budget than previously. This consultation give everyone the chance to get involved and tell us what sort of library service they would like to see.

So please get involved and bring forward your ideas, and lets work together to provide a decent service for all.

 

Regards

Graham Turner  

Cabinet Member for Resources

Heckmondwike Library/Bus Station Update

The latest position is that Metro has put the Bus Station in their forward plans and is working on proposals that do not need the Library to be built first. The reason they are doing that is to avoid a delay whilst the outcome of the budget debate as to the future of the Library Service is not clear.

The Library service across Kirklees, like all Kirklees services is under review due to the £140m cuts imposed by Eric Pickles.

The frustrating part is that if the purchase of the taxi office had not been resisted, the Library and Bus Station would have been built by now.

We in Heckmondwike Labour Party are keen to see the boards removed, our first priority is for a Bus Station, to pull all the stops to one place, remove the congestion from around the Green and make Heckmondwike a Hub for Bus services across the area. We realise we may have to wait for a new library but if we have to wait, would like to see the area landscaped.