Labour pledge not to sell off library service to private companies

Published: 21 April 2011
by DAN CARRIER

THE ruling Labour group at Camden Town Hall have vowed they will not hand over libraries to private companies who would run them for a profit.

Last week the New Journal exclusively reported that LSSI and John Laing had both contacted the council with proposals to take over the service. 

But ahead of a debate on the future of libraries and a vote by councillors to be held on Wednesday,  Labour councillor Tulip Siddiq, the Town Hall’s leisure chief, said: “I can say we are ruling out handing over any library to a for-profit company. We will be working in partnership with friends groups and library users to maintain our library service. I can say now we do not believe in privatising our libraries.”

Using private companies was among suggestions put forward on how libraries could be saved as the budget for libraries in Camden is cut by 25 per cent.

Cllr Siddiq has been warned that ruling out private interest could soon be illegal.

The new Localism bill features a clause meaning such a move could be outlawed on the grounds of fair competition.

Finance chief and fellow Labour councillor Theo Blackwell said: “We are in a slipstream of privatisation that will prove hard to stand up against. This bill is a one-way ticket towards privatisation. We would like to make a strong statement, ruling out private firms, but have been advised that when the new bill becomes law, this could actually be illegal.”

The meeting on Wednesday was called by the Liberal Democrats as more than 6,000 library service users responded to a consultation exercise run by the council.

Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr Matthew Sanders said: “I would much prefer Cllr Siddiq ruled out any library closures.”

Library management company LSSI stepped up their interest by asking the Town Hall if they could speak at the meeting and present their business case to councillors. The request has been refused.

Cllr Sanders added: “I would not be happy to see libraries handed over to private companies but the bottom line is we have to keep all of our libraries open.” 

Conservative leader Cllr Andrew Mennear said all solutions should be considered. He added: “The Labour group are being very closed minded. As long as there is a threat to libraries no option should be ruled out.”

£9k Big bill for meeting

THE cost of hosting the special libraries meeting on Wednesday evening requisitioned by Lib Dem councillors is £9,000, the New Journal has learned – an amount which sceptics have pointed out could pay for around 1,000 new books.

It is expected to be packed by residents in the public galleries making their views known, and the majority of the borough’s 54 councillors are due to attend.

This means the Town Hall stumping up for clerks, council officers, security, heating, lighting and other add-ons.

Cllr Siddiq (pictured) said it was being held at the wrong time. She added: “It is extraordinary to have a council meeting about how libraries will change without the consultation results being known. It would have been much more practical to have done this when they were analysed, so we were not pre-empting the ideas of the 6,000 people who responded.”

But Nigel Steward, of Camden Public Library User Group, said he welcomed the chance for the issues to be thrashed out in public. He said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity of a full council meeting. This is the first chance for a real debate for backbench councillors, some of whom have not even had the benefit of Area Action meetings on this subject in their wards.”