Libraries in Maindee and Stow Hill, Newport could close to save council cash

9:40am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By David Deans - Politics reporter

CLOSURE THREAT: Maindee library, Newport CLOSURE THREAT: Maindee library, Newport

TWO inner-city libraries are under threat of closure, Newport council has revealed.

Newport council officers have invited comments from residents on proposals to shut Maindee and Stow Hill libraries.

The authority’s cabinet member, Debbie Wilcox, says the closures are a necessity so the authority can continue to provide “an excellent service”, with the authority facing shrinking budgets and needing to make savings.

She said: “I know that both venues have a long history of delivering an excellent service to residents and people will be attached to their local library, but the current economic climate has made it impossible for us to continue to deliver all of our services in the traditional way.

“We are proud of our library service and we are fortunate that we have so many libraries in the city.

“However, we are considering these closures as a necessity so we can continue providing an excellent service to all our residents in other premises and through the greater use of technology.”

The proposals, announced yesterday following a query from the Argus, were not included in the 2013/14 draft budget consultation.

Maindee and Stow Hill libraries were selected because of the closeness to other sites, such as the central library in the city centre.

The authority says all residents will still be within two miles of a library, as set down in national guidelines.

The closures will result in a saving of £58,000 in 2013/14.

It said efforts would be made to redeploy staff affected by the closures into vacant posts in other premises.

The Argus understands that proposals are also being examined on changing the opening times of the ten remaining static libraries outside the city centre, which could result in shorter opening hours for some libraries.

Comments on the proposal can be made at www.newport.gov.uk/haveyoursay by Friday 25 January.

Comments(36)

muzzy73 says...
10:25am Tue 15 Jan 13

This is getting to much now , get some one in who can run Newport council properly ! what with talk about closing leasure centers , nursing homes ,Libraries , rest bite homes ,what will be next? I thought the idea was to encourage people in to Newport , well the rate the council are going it will be sending people OUT of Newport !

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whatintheworld says...
10:55am Tue 15 Jan 13

muzzy73 wrote:
This is getting to much now , get some one in who can run Newport council properly ! what with talk about closing leasure centers , nursing homes ,Libraries , rest bite homes ,what will be next? I thought the idea was to encourage people in to Newport , well the rate the council are going it will be sending people OUT of Newport !
"get some one in who can run Newport council properly !"

doesn't matter which party you get in - there's no money. simples.

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Severn40 says...
11:57am Tue 15 Jan 13

There's no money - simple.

Yes and no. Yes - the days of plenty are over.

But no. The political dimension is that there needs to be far greater scrutiny of the Social Services budget. This doesn't mean care homes. It is about challenging existing practices. The problem is that escalating costs here mean serious and deep rooted cuts elsewhere. To pay for social services, we are saying goodbye to the libraries and the music service.

We need local leaders that are prepared to question how things are run and to look seriously and in detail the impact they are having on the quality of life.

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despicableme says...
12:35pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Would someone please turn out the lights

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james jackson says...
12:55pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Does Maindee have elected representatives? If so, what are they doing to try to forestall this travesty?
Much was made about them standing up for the area, prior to election. They had grandiose plans for a community centre - all pie in the sky - but no mention of anything now, not even preserving the little the area has got.
The realities of "power" have hit home and their views are totally unimportant.
Maindee appears to have got what it deserves with invisible councillors to represent them.

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mocyoung says...
1:01pm Tue 15 Jan 13

So the populus of Newport fail to use the libraries enough to justify them being open, and then complain when closures are proposed?

It's all very well blaming the council who obviously are responsible for the vast majority of foulups to afflict our town centre, but answer me this : would you rather see money cut from care and amenity budgets to keep quiet libraries open in the possible event someone MAY use them? I know I'd rather have regular bin collections and clean and safe roads.

Usage statistics and footfall numbers are the most important determining factors in this case. Newport Libraries have tried their hardest and their damndest to keep sites open over the past few years, but in the face of the rise of e-readers and iPads etc, the generation that lend books is plain simply dying out.

Libraries are closing all over the UK, so it's not just a Newport problem. If Stow Hill and Maindee are to close, it's symptomatic of a wider problem in society, not just in our little overgrown village.

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whatintheworld says...
1:07pm Tue 15 Jan 13

mocyoung wrote:
So the populus of Newport fail to use the libraries enough to justify them being open, and then complain when closures are proposed? It's all very well blaming the council who obviously are responsible for the vast majority of foulups to afflict our town centre, but answer me this : would you rather see money cut from care and amenity budgets to keep quiet libraries open in the possible event someone MAY use them? I know I'd rather have regular bin collections and clean and safe roads. Usage statistics and footfall numbers are the most important determining factors in this case. Newport Libraries have tried their hardest and their damndest to keep sites open over the past few years, but in the face of the rise of e-readers and iPads etc, the generation that lend books is plain simply dying out. Libraries are closing all over the UK, so it's not just a Newport problem. If Stow Hill and Maindee are to close, it's symptomatic of a wider problem in society, not just in our little overgrown village.
Well put, why is it so hard for people to understand this?

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james jackson says...
1:36pm Tue 15 Jan 13

It's not hard at all. But many people have drawn attention to bloated social services budgets, for example, while cutting back on everything that makes life pleasant for the majority.
It's about being smarter with the way things are done. Eventually, when there's nothing left to close, who will fund social services and keep the streets clean?

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snafu1 says...
1:53pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Just remember people £342000 thousand pounds crimnal waste on aborted attack on taxi drivers ,the money has got to come from somewhere,so suffer little people ,god we deserve better than this

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whatintheworld says...
1:54pm Tue 15 Jan 13

james jackson wrote:
It's not hard at all. But many people have drawn attention to bloated social services budgets, for example, while cutting back on everything that makes life pleasant for the majority. It's about being smarter with the way things are done. Eventually, when there's nothing left to close, who will fund social services and keep the streets clean?
while it's hard to argue that the social services budget isn't bloated, it's not as if cuts aren't already happening in that department. these cuts effect the most vulnerable in society. the world wide recession has effected local council budgets more than social service bills going up, yet we continue to see social services as our first port of call for cuts.

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bodlondon says...
2:13pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Not quite sure why NCC is making cuts - this is from it's last financial report 2011/2012

"Overall Financial Position
Readers will be able to reconcile the Council Fund surplus to that reported in the CIES by reference to note 29 to the accounts.
The Council fund balance, excluding school balances, has remained at the agreed level of £5million. Earmarked revenue reserves have increased from £60.110million to £60.914million during the financial year, following agreed spend from the Invest to Save Reserve, and further capital receipts.

In total, available revenue reserves to the Authority have increased by £804k from £65.110million to £65.914million."

Thats right - 65.9 million quid in reserve!

http://www.newport.g
ov.uk/stellent/group
s/public/documents/r
eport/cont688505.pdf

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whatintheworld says...
2:25pm Tue 15 Jan 13

bodlondon wrote:
Not quite sure why NCC is making cuts - this is from it's last financial report 2011/2012 "Overall Financial Position Readers will be able to reconcile the Council Fund surplus to that reported in the CIES by reference to note 29 to the accounts. The Council fund balance, excluding school balances, has remained at the agreed level of £5million. Earmarked revenue reserves have increased from £60.110million to £60.914million during the financial year, following agreed spend from the Invest to Save Reserve, and further capital receipts. In total, available revenue reserves to the Authority have increased by £804k from £65.110million to £65.914million." Thats right - 65.9 million quid in reserve! http://www.newport.g ov.uk/stellent/group s/public/documents/r eport/cont688505.pdf
Lobby your local councilor! That is a silly sum of money to have laying around.

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Mr Bump. says...
3:13pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Inner City, for crying out loud. You'll be refering to Bettws, Duffryn and Ringland as Suburbia before long.

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Severn40 says...
4:00pm Tue 15 Jan 13

No one is advocating cuts to Social Services. Simply because it is the biggest item of expenditure, it needs to be examined to see if changes to processes (and not care) can make savings.

Remember the fuss about meals on wheels? In the end, only 90 people in Newport had the service and what was overlooked the service was not delivered to users on a daily basis and in many cases the food was often cold because it had been stuck in the back of a vehicle for over two hours. The service was replaced with another service geared better to the needs of the users. It also saved money that was used elsewhere in Social Services.

This is what meant by looking at processes - does it meet the needs of users - can we do things better and also save money.

The difficulty is if you dont look at Social Services, then other services suffer disproportionately.

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fedupjon says...
7:29pm Tue 15 Jan 13

These are very difficult times for all Councils and hard decisions have to be made.
For some people, targetting the libraries will be seen as an easy option but let me offer you an easier option that will save considerably more than £58000.
Get rid of at least one of the corporate directors because Newport has far more than they actually need.
And just one other thing, can we please put a stop to the current trend of suggesting cuts and then seeking the views of the public. The Council was elected to run Newport so just get on with it and face the consequences at the ballot box when you screw up.

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james jackson says...
7:42pm Tue 15 Jan 13

They could also cut cabinet posts.
Well said fedupjon. Why does this council "consult"? Somebody will still be unhappy after the endless consultations with the public.
Run the council properly. It's what you're all paid handsomely to do/

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Bobevans says...
8:32pm Tue 15 Jan 13

It is hard to justify both those Libraries. Both are close to the main Newport Library. The Stow Hill one you could walk to the main library in 5 minutes. Both have very frequent bus services to Newport

The other option could be for local people to run those two branches on a Voluntary basis sand or make a small annual membership charge. I doubt the later would work as most would use the Central Library instead
Another option might be to house the Library in a Local School to reduce costs. This would probably mean it would only be able to open outside of school hours. Yet another option is to house it in a Leisure Centre. That might improve the viability of the Leisure centres

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Bobevans says...
8:36pm Tue 15 Jan 13

bodlondon wrote:
Not quite sure why NCC is making cuts - this is from it's last financial report 2011/2012

"Overall Financial Position
Readers will be able to reconcile the Council Fund surplus to that reported in the CIES by reference to note 29 to the accounts.
The Council fund balance, excluding school balances, has remained at the agreed level of £5million. Earmarked revenue reserves have increased from £60.110million to £60.914million during the financial year, following agreed spend from the Invest to Save Reserve, and further capital receipts.

In total, available revenue reserves to the Authority have increased by £804k from £65.110million to £65.914million."

Thats right - 65.9 million quid in reserve!

http://www.newport.g

ov.uk/stellent/group

s/public/documents/r

eport/cont688505.pdf
That though is not the figures for 2012/2013 also you normally need to keep some contingency funds or at very least 5% for unfoseen spending such as additional gritting costs, Budgets overunning etc

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Mervyn James says...
9:23pm Tue 15 Jan 13

At least they aren't blaming the welsh speaker for this one.....

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skipbifferty says...
10:49pm Tue 15 Jan 13

You get the council you deserve. You had your chanch last May, so, why wonder when you let Liebour back in charge!!

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brainfreeze says...
11:00pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Hang about, Monmouthshire council are building a spanking new £3m library in Abergavenny.

Either Monmouthshire or Newport have got it terribly wrong.....

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mr david says...
11:26pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Risca just got a new library ,last year.Way do we need a call centre ,this must have cost use a lot to run and fund .The council ran for years with out a call centre i no its jobs but do we need it.

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bodlondon says...
9:49am Wed 16 Jan 13

Bobevans wrote:
bodlondon wrote: Not quite sure why NCC is making cuts - this is from it's last financial report 2011/2012 "Overall Financial Position Readers will be able to reconcile the Council Fund surplus to that reported in the CIES by reference to note 29 to the accounts. The Council fund balance, excluding school balances, has remained at the agreed level of £5million. Earmarked revenue reserves have increased from £60.110million to £60.914million during the financial year, following agreed spend from the Invest to Save Reserve, and further capital receipts. In total, available revenue reserves to the Authority have increased by £804k from £65.110million to £65.914million." Thats right - 65.9 million quid in reserve! http://www.newport.g ov.uk/stellent/group s/public/documents/r eport/cont688505.pdf
That though is not the figures for 2012/2013 also you normally need to keep some contingency funds or at very least 5% for unfoseen spending such as additional gritting costs, Budgets overunning etc
Bobevans wrote:
That though is not the figures for 2012/2013 also you normally need to keep some contingency funds or at very least 5% for unfoseen spending such as additional gritting costs, Budgets overunning etc


If the figures for 2012/2013 had been available I would have used them - as I said they were the latest available.
The reserves increased last year - their is an obligation on them to utilise the funds available and to manage their finances properly. Even if they were to use the interest they received from the reserves they could make a difference - and not just to their own allowances and expenses - £650,000 on allowances & expenses in 2011/2012

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pbhj says...
8:20pm Wed 16 Jan 13

If they're only saving £58k on both sites together then they must be keeping them for something?

As mocyoung pointed out Stow Hill (which Bobevans is at least 15mins from central library on foot) does appear to be under-utilised; it's handy sometimes to have it (as a local) but I won't miss it terribly - especially as Newport Libraries have a book van and a delivery service and online reservations and such.

http://www.cleo.newp
ort.gov.uk/PN/BookEx
press/book_express.h
tml - they should drop the "not already a libraries user" from their delivery service though.

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Howie' says...
12:37am Thu 17 Jan 13

Mervyn James wrote:
At least they aren't blaming the welsh speaker for this one.....
Give it time Merv, give it time.

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Bobevans says...
11:47am Thu 17 Jan 13

Newport Unlimited to be axed. These a good bit of saving


Newport Council funds it to £333,333
and the assembly £666,666

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Bobevans says...
11:52am Thu 17 Jan 13

With the Libraries costs need to be cut and ways need to be found to run them more efficently. One possibility is to have libaries within council run leasure centres. This cuts cost and may increase usage of both Libraries and Leisure facilities. May be make a small annual charge for using the Libraries

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foxy3rd says...
2:47pm Thu 17 Jan 13

I think that is absolutely disgusting that the Ivory Towers gang is even considering closing a wonderful community facility like this.

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scraptheWAG says...
6:00pm Fri 18 Jan 13

literally hundreds of millions to waste on welsh language and then closing library hope those who voted for devolution are proud

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Bobevans says...
5:19pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Perhaps some outside the box thinking. Locate the Library say within a coffee bar it could also have a police counter & small private interview room. This would replace the police stations that are being clossed.

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real comment says...
7:31pm Sat 19 Jan 13

THIS IS THE MARKET TREND. IN THE U.K. LAST YEAR BOOK SALES DROPPED BY 50 MILLION. THAT WHY YOU ARE SEEING BOOK STORES CLOSING DOWN. PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT READING BOOKS LIKE THEY USED TO

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real comment says...
9:03pm Sat 19 Jan 13

THIS IS THE MARKET TREND. IN THE U.K. LAST YEAR BOOK SALES DROPPED BY 50 MILLION. THAT WHY YOU ARE SEEING BOOK STORES CLOSING DOWN. PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT READING BOOKS LIKE THEY USED TO

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james jackson says...
2:42pm Sun 20 Jan 13

People are certainly more illiterate than they were in days of yore!

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SionedGoch says...
1:15pm Mon 21 Jan 13

If people don't agree with these closure there is a petition here for them

http://www.ipetition
s.com/petition/newpo
rtpeoplesrepublic/

Save the Maindee and Stow Hill Libraries.

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SionedGoch says...
1:18pm Mon 21 Jan 13

oops, meant 'closures' of course.

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Mervyn James says...
9:06pm Mon 21 Jan 13

scraptheWAG wrote:
literally hundreds of millions to waste on welsh language and then closing library hope those who voted for devolution are proud
Howie, we spoke too soon.... I'm proud to be devolved, the only niggle is we aren't devolved enough.

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