Southampton City Council's £8.1m cuts threaten library and 120 jobs (From Daily Echo)

Libraries have been in decline for many years now. The internet has been a big factor in this. It may be unfortunate that a library is having to close due to budget cuts, but times are changing. I used to go to libraries a lot in the 1990s, but since I got the internet I barely ever visit them now.

The council want libraries to be run by volunteers, good luck to anyone who wants to volunteer in a library.

What a great idea!!!

Replace a paid member of staff with a volunteer.

Why stop a libraries, why not the replace the chief executive with a volunteer, that would £150k a year in wages alone

My View from the Hill wrote:
The council want libraries to be run by volunteers, good luck to anyone who wants to volunteer in a library.

What a great idea!!!

Replace a paid member of staff with a volunteer.

Why stop a libraries, why not the replace the chief executive with a volunteer, that would £150k a year in wages alone

The council want libraries to be run by volunteers, good luck to anyone who wants to volunteer in a library.

What a great idea!!!

Replace a paid member of staff with a volunteer.

Why stop at libraries, why not replace the chief executive with a volunteer, that would £150k a year in wages alone

My View from the Hill wrote:
The council want libraries to be run by volunteers, good luck to anyone who wants to volunteer in a library. What a great idea!!! Replace a paid member of staff with a volunteer. Why stop a libraries, why not the replace the chief executive with a volunteer, that would £150k a year in wages alone

They've tried this with the hospitals, trying to get volunteers to do the catering, cleaning and admin.
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I think a fair point to make would be that the councillers and consultants could take a fair old pay cut to save thousands! But no, we cant have them doing that, better to lose a load of employees and make the remaining staff do extra unpaid work.

Public libraries were set up as part of a national programme to educate the masses. To make books available to the poor who could not afford to buy.
A typical Tory cut that has more effect on the have nots than the haves!
A further decline in Southampton's education standards!

Linesman wrote:
Public libraries were set up as part of a national programme to educate the masses. To make books available to the poor who could not afford to buy.
A typical Tory cut that has more effect on the have nots than the haves!
A further decline in Southampton's education standards!

I agree, this is a typical Tory cut, the rich get rich the poor get dumped on, but since when did the Tories care about the poor.

Part of my job is to recruit people/volunteers to assist in projects that help them to improve the communities they live in, I can tell Jeremy Moulton and Royston Smith, if they think recruiting volunteers is easy, then they had better think on.

I know this volunteers thing is a massive scam on behalf of the Tories, it will lead to library closures, they will blame the inability to recruit volunteers to keep the libraries open, mark my words

My View from the Hill wrote:
The council want libraries to be run by volunteers, good luck to anyone who wants to volunteer in a library. What a great idea!!! Replace a paid member of staff with a volunteer. Why stop a libraries, why not the replace the chief executive with a volunteer, that would £150k a year in wages alone

It's the same old story every year.More cuts to frontline services while fat cats preach economy to the workers. Meanwhile the bosses remain sitting pretty on bloated salaries, feathering their own nests & carving themselves out a cosy career.Sounds like the M.P's expenses scandal principle to me.

Until more people challenge this endemic culture at the Council,it will continue while they strip away our City week by week.

My View from the Hill wrote:

Linesman wrote:
Public libraries were set up as part of a national programme to educate the masses. To make books available to the poor who could not afford to buy.
A typical Tory cut that has more effect on the have nots than the haves!
A further decline in Southampton's education standards!

I agree, this is a typical Tory cut, the rich get rich the poor get dumped on, but since when did the Tories care about the poor.

Part of my job is to recruit people/volunteers to assist in projects that help them to improve the communities they live in, I can tell Jeremy Moulton and Royston Smith, if they think recruiting volunteers is easy, then they had better think on.

I know this volunteers thing is a massive scam on behalf of the Tories, it will lead to library closures, they will blame the inability to recruit volunteers to keep the libraries open, mark my words

I also use volunteers in my line of work and you're absolutely spot on there... finding a good volunteer is gold-dust and there are so many causes competing for them. Shamefully this means a reduction in a community service and MVFTH you are correct in your assumption that the excuse of not being able to recruit will mean closures, shorter opening times etc. Instead of limiting services all the libraries should be gearing up to use them as community meeting points, where people can read, have a coffee, browse the internet etc.

Hooray...someone else agrees...about spin and £85k...must have read these posts i reckon.......

David Callaghan, prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Southampton Test, said: “We are fighting the closure of this well-used library by a Conservative council which says it needs to save money but can afford to splash out £85,000 on a spin doctor.
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And still they continue with.........
A controversial ten per cent council tax discount for pensioner households, worth around £1m, will continue while special constables could also be in line for a full discount.
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Now at the risk of being called a cynic or even worse from a couple of Tories on this site .....is it really necassary to give these concessions to oap's and "specials" on council tax. How can you give this money away and the whinge that the money from central government has dried up.
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For goodness sake SCC this is pathetic stuff that you churn out time after time

Seeing as the shops at Cumbrian Way are scheduled for demolition it's hardly news. We're paying the price for years of Labour waste- inflating wages at the top level whilst services never improved. it's easy to blame this administration but in reality it's the fault of the Bridle and Vinson years that came before.

Lone Ranger. Say the tories stopped their oap discount, thats a million saved. Where is the rest coming from> higher taxes?

freemantlegirl2 wrote:

My View from the Hill wrote:

Linesman wrote:
Public libraries were set up as part of a national programme to educate the masses. To make books available to the poor who could not afford to buy.
A typical Tory cut that has more effect on the have nots than the haves!
A further decline in Southampton's education standards!

I agree, this is a typical Tory cut, the rich get rich the poor get dumped on, but since when did the Tories care about the poor.

Part of my job is to recruit people/volunteers to assist in projects that help them to improve the communities they live in, I can tell Jeremy Moulton and Royston Smith, if they think recruiting volunteers is easy, then they had better think on.

I know this volunteers thing is a massive scam on behalf of the Tories, it will lead to library closures, they will blame the inability to recruit volunteers to keep the libraries open, mark my words

I also use volunteers in my line of work and you're absolutely spot on there... finding a good volunteer is gold-dust and there are so many causes competing for them. Shamefully this means a reduction in a community service and MVFTH you are correct in your assumption that the excuse of not being able to recruit will mean closures, shorter opening times etc. Instead of limiting services all the libraries should be gearing up to use them as community meeting points, where people can read, have a coffee, browse the internet etc.

Even if there is a community meeting place for groups/people to meet up have a chat and coffee, the council will not support this, they will expect volunteers to run it for free and pay rent and rates.

If the council want volunteers to run their libraries, then they should enter into a service level agreement with the volunteer groups and community organisations who will run them, which will benefit the groups, the council and the service users, however as yet this is not happening here, its very close to happening in Southampton, but not yet

Getting volunteers to run a library is at best cheap labour and worst a get out clause for closure.

The council have many empty properties across this city, if they appreciated and valued the voluntary community groups and the voluntary sector organisation in general, they would allow the voluntary sector use of these buildings without having to pay rent and free, alias this not the case.

MrGMan wrote:
Lone Ranger. Say the tories stopped their oap discount, thats a million saved. Where is the rest coming from> higher taxes?

Why is it MrGMan that the Council "need" to give oap's like yourself and "Specials" discounts on Council tax. It is totally unnecassary. It is a WASTE of my money. If there is hardship there are ways of claiming assistance, but to just give it away when belts need to be tightened is an endorsement of the inability of the Tories to run the Council correctly.
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Your mate Moulton is quoted as saying "Cllr Moulton added: “National grants have dried up and I have always argued that the council does not receive a fair amount of cash from Government.
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Yes dried up so why give a million quid away.
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GROSS INCOMPETANCE or pathetic vote grabber.
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In addition you are the first to say "Where's the money coming from"......

Hold on a minute. Let's not be blinded to the fact that the present Tory administration are merely the stewards of our city's assets. They are not there for the Tory rich boys to flog off to the highest bidder, sell them to their pals at knockdown prices or shut down on a whim.
Who voted for this? Did you? I certainly didn't!
If it is a matter of balancing the books, then let's see them. Let's see where the money is really going! Oh sorry, I forgot! It's paying for the councillors expenses and their pal, the City Rebranding Manager!
Try this stunt in France or Italy and people would be out on the streets in force by now. Heads would begin to roll - in more ways than one!

A Southampton resident wrote:
Hold on a minute. Let's not be blinded to the fact that the present Tory administration are merely the stewards of our city's assets. They are not there for the Tory rich boys to flog off to the highest bidder, sell them to their pals at knockdown prices or shut down on a whim.
Who voted for this? Did you? I certainly didn't!
If it is a matter of balancing the books, then let's see them. Let's see where the money is really going! Oh sorry, I forgot! It's paying for the councillors expenses and their pal, the City Rebranding Manager!
Try this stunt in France or Italy and people would be out on the streets in force by now. Heads would begin to roll - in more ways than one!

You say,

Let's not be blinded to the fact that the present Tory administration are merely the stewards of our city's assets.

Would that be the assets that they are selling, look at the gallery, the leisure facilities and alike?

By the time this lot has finished there won't be anything left to sell.

Get rid of the morons at the top.
These worthless idiots are a complete let down and should be flogged in public in guildhall square, then put in the stocks and have rotten food thrown at them & then to finish they should have to eat it as well!

Useless toerags!

it makes me laugh, any posters actually use libraries? I use Portswood library for my kids. I've seen years of Labour waste bring this on. Ask our MP's why we get a much lower government grant than similar authorities in the north. As for expenses, it was June Bridle who introduced the 'cabinet' format, this council have reduced the amount they take from the tax take.

Condor Man wrote:
it makes me laugh, any posters actually use libraries? I use Portswood library for my kids. I've seen years of Labour waste bring this on. Ask our MP's why we get a much lower government grant than similar authorities in the north. As for expenses, it was June Bridle who introduced the 'cabinet' format, this council have reduced the amount they take from the tax take.

Yes I do use a library, but for how much longer that is question?

It's not just about libraries, it's about the bigger picture, I don't want to see volunteers being used as a total workforce, they should be used to supplement paid, trained staff, in fact I don't want to see paid staff replaced in any service or organisation (not just SCC), it about valuing volunteers, not using them save money.

I have nothing against Councillors claiming expenses, although I feel some do take the mickey a bit, I don't want to people to lose their jobs and be replaced by volunteers it's fair on them or the paid staff.

I find it hard for the council to justify spending copious amount of money being spent on middle and higher managment salaries, whilst getting rid librarians.

My View from the Hill wrote:

Condor Man wrote: it makes me laugh, any posters actually use libraries? I use Portswood library for my kids. I've seen years of Labour waste bring this on. Ask our MP's why we get a much lower government grant than similar authorities in the north. As for expenses, it was June Bridle who introduced the 'cabinet' format, this council have reduced the amount they take from the tax take.

Yes I do use a library, but for how much longer that is question? It's not just about libraries, it's about the bigger picture, I don't want to see volunteers being used as a total workforce, they should be used to supplement paid, trained staff, in fact I don't want to see paid staff replaced in any service or organisation (not just SCC), it about valuing volunteers, not using them save money. I have nothing against Councillors claiming expenses, although I feel some do take the mickey a bit, I don't want to people to lose their jobs and be replaced by volunteers it's fair on them or the paid staff. I find it hard for the council to justify spending copious amount of money being spent on middle and higher managment salaries, whilst getting rid librarians.

it's not about librarians, it's about providing services for people at a price that people can afford to pay. I pay nearly 10% of my take home pay in council tax, I can't afford to pay much more. Can an OAP afford much more or someone on a low income? no. SCC have an inflated workforce given the hundreds of temps that work there covering posts for full time staff on either long term sickness or keeping people on after the funding has run out. This can't continue.

Condor Man and Reality.
Miles apart as usual.
Is your real name Royston Smith?

Condor Man wrote:

My View from the Hill wrote:

Condor Man wrote: it makes me laugh, any posters actually use libraries? I use Portswood library for my kids. I've seen years of Labour waste bring this on. Ask our MP's why we get a much lower government grant than similar authorities in the north. As for expenses, it was June Bridle who introduced the 'cabinet' format, this council have reduced the amount they take from the tax take.

Yes I do use a library, but for how much longer that is question? It's not just about libraries, it's about the bigger picture, I don't want to see volunteers being used as a total workforce, they should be used to supplement paid, trained staff, in fact I don't want to see paid staff replaced in any service or organisation (not just SCC), it about valuing volunteers, not using them save money. I have nothing against Councillors claiming expenses, although I feel some do take the mickey a bit, I don't want to people to lose their jobs and be replaced by volunteers it's fair on them or the paid staff. I find it hard for the council to justify spending copious amount of money being spent on middle and higher managment salaries, whilst getting rid librarians.

it's not about librarians, it's about providing services for people at a price that people can afford to pay. I pay nearly 10% of my take home pay in council tax, I can't afford to pay much more. Can an OAP afford much more or someone on a low income? no. SCC have an inflated workforce given the hundreds of temps that work there covering posts for full time staff on either long term sickness or keeping people on after the funding has run out. This can't continue.

The reason I stated librarians is because the story mentions library staff being replaced by volunteers.

So you expect people to give their time for free, just so you don't have pay for something,
what other service providers should we get volunteers to do job, maybe get volunteer fire brigade personnel instead of paid staff, so that you don't have to pay so much council tax and when something goes wrong, I no doubt you would one of the first on this thread complaining about volunteer firemen.

Where else to get something without having to pay for it.

I know let's devalue volunteers by treating them as paid replacements, if you knew anything about volunteers, you would know they do it because they want it, not because there is no one else.

Yes the council do pay inflated wages, copious amount of money paid to inept staff, so let cut there wages especially the high paid senior management, that would reduce your council tax, that way you could save some of the 10% of your salary.

The libraries are already using volunteers. The libraries are badly managed. I have not been to a library for years as they are not safe. Notices abound about thieves. They are noisy and it is impossible to concentrate.

However the councillors should take a pay cut. The number of councillors should be reduced. The majority of councillors do absolutely nothing for their local area.
r

Condor Man wrote:
Seeing as the shops at Cumbrian Way are scheduled for demolition it's hardly news. We're paying the price for years of Labour waste- inflating wages at the top level whilst services never improved. it's easy to blame this administration but in reality it's the fault of the Bridle and Vinson years that came before.

How long are you going to blame the current problems on a Labour City Council?
Didn't the Tories promise an instant answer to the city's ills when they were elected?
Like Baldric, they had 'a cunning plan'!
With regard the use of libraries, it is the children from schools in the the poorer areas that will be most affected by the closures, also the elderly with poor eyesight that borrow the large print books.
The Tories always take from those less able to fight back.

To those who dont like the cuts. Where is the money coming from?

The answer is higher taxes.

MrGMan wrote:
To those who dont like the cuts. Where is the money coming from? The answer is higher taxes.

From those that have the money and can afford to pay!

Linesman wrote:

MrGMan wrote: To those who dont like the cuts. Where is the money coming from? The answer is higher taxes.

From those that have the money and can afford to pay!

I can't afford to pay much more, hence why cuts are necessary.

MrGMan wrote:
To those who dont like the cuts. Where is the money coming from? The answer is higher taxes.

Same old clap trap.....dont give discounts to OAP's and Specials = saved at least £1m

If the Tories know one thing, it's the price of everything. And the value of nothing.