Arts cash ‘won’t save our libraries’

Cash-strapped library bosses yesterday said they planned to apply for Arts Council cash to run events, but warned their critics that the money could not save services threatened by Westminster cuts.

Labour-led Sheffield Council recently announced that it will make £50m of savings next year, with council leader Julie Dore saying every service was “under review”.

A consultation has recently been held on the future of Sheffield’s libraries and Lib Dem councillors called for a recently- announced £6m Arts Council fund to be explored as a way of staving off problems.

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But Coun Mazher Iqbal, the city’s libraries spokesman said: “We will be bidding for this funding but the government have made it clear that this is not to top up our funding for libraries.

“It will not compensate for the massive cuts we are facing. It is to deliver arts and community events in libraries.”