Health funding may be lifesaver
for libraries facing chop in cuts

Council chiefs in Sheffield will create a £262,000 pot to support community organisations which run up to 10 libraries in the city.

Community organisations have come forward with 15 potential business plans for the libraries and the authority will make a final decision on which will go ahead in June.

The authority set out proposals last year to run 11 libraries directly and a further five in partnership with the community.

It said the remaining 10 would only continue if community groups came forward to run them.

The council has now said the offers from the community and the money it is making available should ensure the libraries remain open.

Coun Mazher Iqbal, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for Communities and Inclusion, said: “As I have said many times before during this process, we want to keep as many libraries open as possible. The savings we have to make are a result of harsh Government cuts which are placing a heavy burden on northern cities such as Sheffield.

“Now there should be no reason for libraries not to be run as was proposed.

“We are now recommending this extra investment to give community groups the chance to make a success of the independent libraries they will run.”

Councils took over responsbility for public health and the funding available to support such work last year.

Richard Webb, executive director of communities, said the authority was careful about how it used that money and loneliness and isolation had been shown to be causes of ill-health.

“We think from the information we have had from our consultation that libraries play an important role in preventing isolation.

“That’s why we think it is a really good use of public health money.”

The Stannington and District Library Group (STAND) is among those to put forward plans to take over the running of their local library.

Chairman Jenny van Tinteren said the group had stepped in reluctantly to prevent the loss of the library.

She said: “We thought we can’t stand by and let our library close. We have got to put in a bid.

“We are going to be dependent on getting funding. There will be a number of funding applications to all sorts of organisations that offer funding to community groups.”

She added: “We have paid our council taxes the same as everyone else.

“We think everyone should have a library within reach that is supported by the local council.”

The threat to Sheffield’s libraries has become a significant political issue in the city ahead of May’s local elections.

Coun David Baker, Sheffield Liberal Democrat spokesman for Libraries, said: “Today’s announcement shows that Sheffield’s Labour councillors weren’t being honest with people when they said there was no money available.

“Local Liberal Democrats collected a petition of more than 16,000 names and community groups collected thousands more.

“It just goes to show that funding can be identified when enough people come together and protest.

He added: “I’m really proud of library campaigners who have forced the council’s hand and made them re-think their unfair proposals.

“However, we still think it’s unfair that some of the most popular libraries such as Stannington, Broomhill, Greenhill and Totley will receive much less support than others.

“We know from experience across the country that ongoing support is needed and that unexpected costs will arise – so although this is a step forward these libraries remain under threat of closure.”

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