Kirklees Council criticised on community-run libraries plan

Eight libraries in Kirklees could be transferred into community control

A West Yorkshire council's plan to transfer libraries into community control would be an "unnecessary blow", according to an opposition party.

Labour-controlled Kirklees Council is considering putting local communities in charge of eight of its 24 libraries.

The authority has had to make millions worth of savings to avoid effectively having to declare itself bankrupt.

Colne Valley Conservatives said the changes to libraries would "make little difference to the council's finances".

The eight libraries which could be transferred into community control are Honley, Meltham, Marsden, Kirkheaton, Skelmanthorpe, Denby Dale, Mirfield and Shepley.

The plans would see about 47 jobs lost, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Together with the closure of help and advice centres in Huddersfield and Dewsbury, which will now be integrated into the library service, the measure is expected to save the council £1.86m.

'Huge negative impact'

Council officers said they expected shutting the customer service centres to save £950,000 in 2024/25, while transferring libraries into community control - a decision which will be made at a later date - could save £912,000 in 2025/26.

The Conservative spokesperson said the proposed job cuts would "make little difference to the council's finances, but have a huge negative impact on the community libraries."

"We will keep a close eye on the outcomes of the feasibility process and make sure our community libraries don't suffer an unnecessary blow after all they have done for our community," they added.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors voted to "commence engagement with community partners around the proposed community-managed libraries model."

The first stage of exploring the feasibility of community-managed libraries is anticipated to be completed by the summer.

A decision to integrate the customer service and library functions was also made at the meeting.