Wirral Council’s cash-strapped cultural services department may close libraries

Oct 15 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

LIBRARIES are being reviewed as part of a massive overhaul of Wirral Council’s cash-stapped cultural services department.

In 2007 the council approved the appointment of consultants Strategic Leisure at a cost of £100,000 to prepare a strategic development plan for leisure and cultural services.

Their long-awaited report says the borough has “too many built facilities in poor condition, some in the wrong place, not fit for purpose and not to modern standards”.

Wirral currently has three central libraries in Birkenhead, Wallasey and Bebington – but the report suggests the service could be provided by one central library, plus satellite libraries and community provision.

It says Wirral’s library service has:

Many buildings in a poor condition

High staffing costs

Significant capital investment needs

An inadequate book fund

Birkenhead Central Library closed last year for extensive repairs to its roof but the report says further investment is still required.

However, Wirral’s 24 libraries are praised for having “excellent local information and helpful staff”.

Councillor Bob Moon, cabinet member for culture and leisure services, said: “The review makes it clear that we currently operate too many buildings, some in a poor state of repair and some simply inaccessible to large parts of the community.

“In that respect, the findings of the review come as no surprise.

“This has been an extremely comprehensive review of how the council currently delivers cultural services.”

The report’s analysis says Wirral needs fewer but better quality sports and leisure facilities with more “good quality water space, pay and play fitness facilities, and all-weather pitches”.

On arts and heritage it recommends: “Rationalising the service, particularly on the museum side and reducing the number of facilities.”

The consultants also say additional investment in the infrastructure of Wirral’s golf courses is needed to offset falling attendances and a failure to meet the council’s ambitious income targets.

The report has been tied into a review of all the authority’s built assets and will be considered by cabinet members tomorrow .

Wirral Council says it is facing a bill of £10m for outstanding repairs, plus £9m in energy costs for buildings in 2009/10 – equivalent to a 9% increase in council tax.

Council leader Steve Foulkes said: “Doing nothing is not an option”.