Kirklees Council would be making a mistake by cutting libraries - Yorkshire Post Letters

Libraries are a much loved leisure facility and used by people of all ages, from children to senior citizens and I believe are a community asset despite more reading e-books.

Many still enjoy holding a book in their hands and going to their local library once or twice a week gets them out of the house and is an excuse to meet friends and have tea or coffee and cake in a local cafe. It helps the local economy on the high street in towns like Mirfield, Honley and Denby Dale to name three which were threatened for closure by Kirklees Council.

I know someone who reads eight books a week as there isn't much to watch on television despite there being hundreds of chan̈nels with lots of repeats.

All local authorities are having to make spending cuts with libraries, parks and open spaces and other leisure facilities are easy targets for councillors to cut operational cost by axing staff.

Are those councillors in Cabinet who are making these decisions counterbalancing the effects on people's well being, as reading a book is relaxing and can be educational which keeps people's minds active?

My experience of using volunteers is mixed and is useful but isn't as reliable as having paid staff.

Surely Kirklees Council can look at back of house services rather than front of house services like libraries and grassing over flower beds in parks.

I am sure that there are layers of middle management from heads of service or assistant directors of service which could be removed with potentially greater savings?

Are councillors' attendance allowances too generous and should they take a lead by cutting allowances by 5 per cent or 10 per cent, when making decisions on services budget cuts, as many councillors have this as a second income?

The cost of democratic services at some councils is 'eye watering' and is an area which could be 'culled' by merging, for example, area planning committees.

I sincerely hope that senior officers, ward councillors and cabinet members are making the right decisions for the residents of Kirklees communities, and that managers of services are engaging with individual towns and communities needs, and looking at good practices in other parts of the country through the Local Government Association.