Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Libraries disagree over the library service takeover. Accusations and financial concerns are raised.
Councilor Faircloth-Mutton said it’s the right thing to do now. The charity CEO, Bruce Leek, was shocked. He only got a fifteen-minute warning; this happened before the announcement.
The council says all 45 libraries will stay open, promising the hours will stay the same. The charity stated that cuts were needed to save money, and hours might have been reduced to help.
The charity said their services could shrink. Council takeover could cause contract issues. Arts programs and prison libraries could be cut, and literacy projects too, might be affected.
The council says they’ll apply for grants. This will help keep services running well. Some current services are already paid for, and the council plans to add new programs.
The Ministry of Justice assured the council that prison libraries can still continue. The current contract ending won’t change that.
The council said the charity’s finances are a concern because the charity spends a third of its budget on the head office, including the senior managers’ pay.
The charity said less than 5% goes to management. External funding and money they earn pays for this. The council disagrees, stating that management costs are too high.
The council accused the charity of poor choices, believing the charity valued savings less than avoiding closures. The charity argues they never planned closures.
The charity says wages must be rebalanced under council control. Rising insurance contributions can increase costs. The council says they accounted for it.
The council promises to protect frontline staff jobs, but said some other jobs may be cut. The charity called wage claims misleading information from the council.
The charity said the takeover is political and may affect election chances during devolution. The council responded that this is untrue.
The charity said there will be added costs, which could cost as much as one million initially. The council says the first year could cost £1.8 million and they have factored that budget in.
The costs include losing charity tax relief, which creates a £500,000 business rate gap. The council states they are investigating this matter, and it is part of a government review.
The two sides disagree on negotiations. They have vastly different accounts of events; including the official tender process and talks.
The council states it could not accept the demands, which included reduced hours and unwillingness to cut back on back office management. They also asked for an illegal contract.
The charity thinks the council misunderstands them. The charity states that their plan would secure the best future. Libraries today offer a crucial modern service.
The council plans to vote on March 18. A petition wants the decision reconsidered and it has already gained almost 4,500 signatures.