Calls for resignations after u-turn on Wirral library closures

Oct 1 2009 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Wirral Council’s leadership last night dramatically announced a U-turn on library closures. Liam Murphy reports

CAMPAIGNERS in Wirral were celebrating a major victory last night after the council shelved plans to close 11 libraries.

Last night’s U-turn brought fresh calls for Wirral’s leadership to resign after an embarrassing conclusion to their controversial plans.

The move came even before the publication of the result of a public inquiry into the move, although the leadership have seen a draft copy of its findings.

But Labour council leader Steve Foulkes last night insisted the decision – due to come before cabinet tonight – was made to allow next year’s budget to be set against a background of stability.

Cllr Foulkes, who had long defended the controversial plans, said the decision would also allow the debate about the future of libraries to take place “in less ferocious manner”.

The library closures have been one of the most contentious political issues in Wirral over the last year, arising out of a Strategic Asset Review which included the transfer of assets such as Wirral Museum and Pacific Road to outside groups.

The Conservatives opposed the plans and pledged to re-open any libraries that were closed, while grass-roots opposition rallied.

Moves were even made to create a single issue political party to challenge Labour and Lib-Dems who had voted for the plan.

The issues came to a head when then Culture Secretary Andy Burnham ordered an independent inquiry into the closures, led by Sue Charteris.

The report from this inquiry has been passed to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and a decision by current secretary of state Ben Bradshaw based on Ms Charteris’ recommendations is still awaited.

A draft copy of the report has been sent to Wirral Council for comments and corrections – with the Conservative opposition furious that Labour and Lib-Dems were being given advance disclosure of its contents.

But Cllr Foulkes insisted the report had not forced the decision, saying he had “seen hundreds of draft reports that have looked nothing like the final version”.

He said the decision had been forced by budgetary issues and the need for the authority to make decisions in stable circumstances.

He said: “We have tried to move this along in a timely fashion. The inquiry has taken longer than expected – we were promised a quick inquiry. Two ministers involved in this have moved on to other jobs.”

The decision also spells the end for the planned £20m investment in 13 neighbourhood centres, a decision which Cllr Foulkes said was also affected by the current economic climate.

Cllr Foulkes said: “The government itself is looking at a modernisation of library services and is carrying out a review of what these should look like in the future.

“There is a major debate now under way about the best way forward for libraries in a technological age, and a review of the current legislation governing libraries.

“We do not want anything Wirral has done, or planned to do, to overshadow this debate, or create precedents which could cause real difficulties for other local authorities facing the same challenges as us.