Forum Topic

Libraries and money

When library closures were rumoured I wrote to Cllr, Bell as local councillor for me and Greenford is my local library. He said there were no plans to close it.  True. At that date there were no published plans. Now closure is planned unless  volunteers run it on the cheap.    Enough of false economy. Cut councillors allowances instead - cutting back to the expenses we received when I was a councillor 1990-98.

Graham Weeks ● 2468d29 Comments

So why does our Council want to close them? The money could be found very easily. The overall savings by shedding more than half the service is minimal. The social cost will be huge.

Simon Hayes ● 2453d

Lbraries have to move with the times.  They do need to be a societal hub and they need to be open when working people can use them as well as those who are unemployed and retired.They are vital for job-seekers who may not have smartphones and who need them for computer use for searching for and applying for jobs.As retirement ages increase there are other uses that libraries can be put to such as the fact that there is a dire need for silver-surfers IT instruction as the pressure on online everything increases.  It is easier to keep in touch with friends and family overseas using Skype and other similar IT.  The Middx Association for the Blind also offers computer help in some places now that Councils don't.  This is especially useful where particular software  is available to help those with sight loss and which it can be useful to discuss and try out.

Philippa Bond ● 2453d

A civilised Society/Borough does not mess with its libraries.Your points are extremely valid Ms Vipond.Unfortunately, Neanderthals are running LBE.

Rosco White ● 2454d

Money should be allotted to libraries as they are not only there for book reading but social clubs and job clubs, art and crafts and the hub of a community. Librarians are usually well informed . Book sales could be reduced but I feel libraries are very important. More advertising about libraries could be done.

Helen Vipond ● 2454d

Money should be allotted to libraries as they are not only there for book reading but social clubs and job clubs, art and crafts and the hub of a community. Librarians are usually well informed . Book sales could be reduced but I feel libraries are very important. More advertising about libraries could be done.

Helen Vipond ● 2454d

Absolutely,.Outsourcing, a rarely successful option which had exponential growth under Blair and Brown.Carillion, as I posted, did not even exist as an entity until 'New Labour' threw contracts  at them.Look at the historic growth of Capita under 'New Labour', thanks to their profligacy they are now so embedded within our vital services that they are almost 'too big to fail'.

N V Brooks ● 2456d

And here is an article -"Where did it go wrong for Carillion"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42666275

Philippa Bond ● 2456d

https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2017/carillion-outsourcing-report-published-17-19/Yep Govt cuts again - false economies of outsourcing.

Philippa Bond ● 2456d

Hear Hear Mr Brooks!

Rosco White ● 2456d

Ah yes, Carillion, the Facilities Management company that hardly existed (not founded until 19990 until the Blair and Brown government threw millions of pounds worth of public sector contracts at them including over a dozen hospitals on PFI deals!The underperformed dreadfully in Hounslow and their contract was terminated by 'mutual agreement'.Funny how Hounslow could finance this only eighteen months ago but Ealing struggles to find the money to keep its own meagre library provision fully open.

N V Brooks ● 2456d

There were a lot of complaints about Carillion's performance pr lack of quite a while before they went under.  That is why Hounslow took the contract back.  I think it cost them more as a result.Govt kept giving Carillion new contracts for some reason giving the false impression to sub-contractors that everything was hunky-dory when it wasn't and a lot of sub-contractors lost money.

Philippa Bond ● 2456d

Stop ranting madam and admit that the planned closure has far more to do with the Socialist philistines running the Town hall than any 'Tory cut'.I am afraid that your 'mantra' sounds increasingly like a broken record.Hounslow and Hillingdon can manage a library service, why can't Ealing?

N V Brooks ● 2458d

It's the Tory cuts!  :-))))))))

Rosco White ● 2458d

Of course those far right Tories who have their own of everything will probably also be buying from Amazon with their oversized packaging. When is this Govt going to get them to pay a sensible amount of tax for the business that they do here as well as for all that packaging the Councils have to dispose of?

Philippa Bond ● 2458d

So instead of bemoaning the closure of the libraries and railing against the Council - tell me what they have to offer.When the garden waste was collected free I used to occasionally manage to get up to the Central Library on a Saturday morning to pick up the biodegradable bags.  Only occasionally because there was always a lot to catch up on after working long hours in central London - leaving too early and getting back too late.It was wonderful when I had a child to be able to choose and borrow books and if we were lucky in our timing listen to a story being read.  I've never had much time to read myself.  I've got loads of books I've been given or have bought that I still haven't read.  I think we borrowed a few videos but it was pretty stressful returning stuff although a very good routine to get into. We borrowed books for school projects including art ones.Now if we moved to a four day week that would make a difference to shopping habits...  Or with more flexible working hours it might be possible.

Philippa Bond ● 2458d

Hounslow went through the 'cut and/or close' exercise back in 2011. They actually listened to their resident's feedback and, sadly, outsourced to Carillion(whatever happened to them?).With good foresight though they pulled the contract from Carillion back in house in 2017 before Carillion went belly-up.The scheme at Brentford is far from perfect as disabled access has been compromised in the initial design but it is far far better then closure or reducing the library service to the point where it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy "no books so no on uses it, let's close it" as the Philistines in Ealing propose.Brentford residents are also fortunate in having more than one local councillor who will engage with residents online to keep them abreast of developments not only with libraries but on wider topics.

N V Brooks ● 2458d

Hounslow, which is Labour run, is maintaining its library service and is even investing in improving Brentford library - a Carnegie one like Hanwell - to be used for more community benefit.Rather than blame the Tories the demise of Ealing’s service lies closer to home. Julian Bell and his friends are just not interested in running these ‘inconvenient’ things. Much better to convert them into housing (to be sold to the highest bidder) or turn them into retail outlets.I wonder how many of our councillors are library members and when any of them last used one.

Simon Hayes ● 2459d

Left-wing hogwash!What world do you live in?Look at Hillingdon (Tory-run) who are expanding all 17 of their libraries.Inconvenient truth.

N V Brooks ● 2459d

Well the Tories have their own personal libraries don't they?  They don't see why they should support ones for other people.  Very short-sighted, they've forgotten their history lessons - and that education for all is key to lifting people out of poverty and reducing an enormous population increase, as well giving people the ability to discuss and debate differences of opinion rather than just going to war and trying to annihilate anyone you don't agree with.

Philippa Bond ● 2459d

Shhh!Seriously, though, the library offer in the borough will be laughable if this Council pushes ahead with these closures. What a great benefit to the taxpayers of Ealing.

Simon Hayes ● 2463d

Maybe Library funding was diverted to BellEnd's loan?Which you're not supposed to ask or talk about?  ;-)

Rosco White ● 2463d

Just been into the new Central Library and it’s tiny. Of course it’s all new and shiny but very limited book stock, not many computer terminals (90 percent of which were being used) and no access to upper floor unless you have a student card. It’s hardly a flagship for the borough. I’ve been in bigger branch libraries.

Simon Hayes ● 2464d

I find the whole library scenario very sad. They are such an important part of what has made our society work and it seems such a regressive step to close so many of them. I note that the new Central Library has opened in the Ealing Shopping Centre, what is the general feedback on it?

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2464d

Assuming there is no bias on that source it is interesting to see how (relatively) well the LibDem and Tory boroughs are doing.

N V Brooks ● 2464d

How Ealing, Hillingdon and the other London boroughs compare:https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/data/boroughs/overview-of-london-boroughs/

Philippa Bond ● 2464d

It’s not funny, sadly. It’s mismanagement, incompetence and lack of empathy. I’ve asked Cllr Bell a number of times what he thinks his legacy to Ealing will be. Answer comes there none....but it will be obvious in a few years time and it won’t be good.

Simon Hayes ● 2467d

Funny how Hillingdon, who have the same levels of grant reduction, can proudly claim to be investing in all 17 of the borough's libraries.

N V Brooks ● 2467d

Not ole "Two Houses, Two Jobs, Secret Council Loan, 'It's the Tory cuts!'", shurely shome mishtake?  ;-)

Rosco White ● 2468d

Good luck with that Graham. When I suggested that I was roundly shouted down, especially by Bell. They NEED that money to be allow anyone to be a councillor. Mind you, have a look at how many of them rake it in from public money. Bell and a Sabiers seem to have it as main income stream.

Simon Hayes ● 2468d