Library job cuts and fee rises planned by council

Buckinghamshire Council said it was looking at ways of changing its library services

Library staff are set to lose their jobs, and fees for burials, new bins and wedding ceremonies are set to increase as a council aims to cut costs and secure its budget.

Conservative-controlled Buckinghamshire Council said about 15 full-time equivalent members of staff could be made redundant under a "Library Flex" cost-cutting plan agreed by cabinet members on Thursday.

It said the idea could save £555,000 a year by 2026/27, following an initial investment of £500,000.

The authority had previously announced it was planning to increase council tax by 4.99% to help make £115.6m in savings and income over the next three years.

Buckinghamshire Council will vote on the draft budget, which could include raising council tax, in February

The council said new self-service technology would be brought in to give library users access during quieter times without staff being present.

Library staff will still be present during busier hours, while community groups were being encouraged to use the buildings during unstaffed hours, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Sophie Payne, service director for communities, said the council "valued" its "highly skilled" libraries team and would try to reduce the scope for compulsory redundancies under a staff restructure.

She said measures including "live CCTV monitoring", panic buttons and emergency phone access would help keep library users safe.

In its draft budget, set to be agreed in February, a number of council fees are also set to increase by about 5% "to keep pace with increases in the costs of delivering these activities", the council said.

Larger increases will apply to registrar fees, household recycling centre charges, adult social care client charges and planning fees.

Burial fees are due to rise from £1,061 to £1,114 and wedding licence fee are due to go up from from £2,480 to £2,604.

The cost of hiring a football pitch for adults in High Wycombe will rise from £44 to £46, and the cost of a round at South Buckinghamshire Golf Course will rise from £33 to £35.

The cost of a new 240 litre (53 gallon) wheelie bin and delivery will go from £42 to £44.10 and the cost of closing a road for over 24 hours for filming will increase from £3,243 to £3,405.15.