Tandridge Buzz

Surrey County Council (SCC) has reversed its decision to have 10 libraries run by volunteers.

A judicial review of SCC’s plan for 10 community run libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, was brought by Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM).

SCC and SLAM agreed that the Council would revoke the decision taken last September rather than revisit court – a decision formalised in a court order handed down today (2 May).

Mr Justice Wilkie had previously said that the Council’s decision to cut staff had been “unlawful” and hit out its “bland assertion” that volunteer staff would receive training.

The Council was found to be in breach of its Public Sector Equalities Duty in regard to the training provided to volunteers.

Gun to the head

“The County Council put a gun to the head of local people over this policy: ‘run your library for free or we will close it,’” said Lee Godfrey, spokesman for SLAM.

“It is good news that the High Court has finally put a stop to that nonsense.

“Surrey County Council has been sent a very clear and strong message – its library plans were ill-judged, unwanted and illegal. The Council had a good run over its library plans but it’s now over.”

He added: “The Council has spent a fortune on these library plans for no benefit – it’s now to time to cut its losses and not waste any more taxpayers’ money on the folly.”

Cabinet

SCC will now start a consultation to ask users of the 10 libraries what equalities training they think should be provided for volunteers at community partnered libraries. The Cabinet will re-consider the library plans on 19 June.

“Today’s order brings the court proceedings to close,” said Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games.

“We’ve agreed that the best course of action is to take the libraries plans back to Cabinet and make the decision again, with all the information we need about volunteer training.

“A lot of work has already gone into making sure community library volunteers receive the training they need to help people with disabilities and other special needs.

“I’d urge people to give us their views in this latest consultation so we can further enhance the training package we have created.

“We want everyone to enjoy using Surrey’s libraries. Our aim all along has been to keep all 52 branches open and allowing communities to run libraries would enable us to this.”

The future of Surrey County Council’s (SCC) plan to have 10 community run libraries remains in limbo after a High Court Judge postponed his ruling until May.

Mr Justice Wilkie said that the Council’s decision to cut staff had been “unlawful” and hit out its “bland assertion” that volunteer staff would receive training.

In a bizarre twist, both sides have claimed victory and will await the full verdict in May.

The judicial review of SCC’s plan for 10 community run libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, was brought by Surrey Action Against Library Movement (SLAM).

SCC has already opened one community library at Byfleet and believes the policy is the only way it can keep all 52 libraries open in the wake of budget cuts.

Pleased

The Council said it was “pleased” that a High Court judge had not criticised its libraries plan meaning the proposals could still go ahead.

They claim, Justice Wilkie upheld a “technical challenge” brought by protesters over plans to support communities to run 10 libraries in Surrey.

Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: “The decision is no reflection on our plans for communities to run local libraries with support from the county council.

“Our aim all along has been to keep all Surrey’s libraries open and help them thrive, while elsewhere in the country branches are closing.

“We’ve listened to disability groups to develop training programmes for volunteers from the start and the judge recognised this.”

Ill-judged policy

However, SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey said: “Justice Wilkie’s judgment presents vast difficulties for SCC which can not be ignored, must be given weighty consideration, and can not be overcome by ‘bland assertions’ that training will be provided or that “we can press ahead anyway.

“The costs of implementing the volunteer-run library policy has already outstripped the meagre amount of savings claimed.

“The effort and cost of the significant amount of ongoing training required, and monitoring of that training, will be considerable.

“We say it would be far simpler and cheaper to keep a few paid staff in place in each library, return the Library Management System to each library, and keep the 10 libraries within the managed network.

“If volunteers can add additional value and services, then all well and good.

“SCC should not press on with its ill-thought and ill-judged policy, and should now find the dignity to abandon it.”

Both sides will now wait for the Judge to hand down his verdict in May.

The High Court has deferred its decision until next week over the legality of Surrey County Council’s (SCC) community run library plans.

The judicial review of SCC’s plan for 10 community run libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, has been brought by Surrey Action Against Library Movement (SLAM).

SCC has already opened one community library at Byfleet and believes the policy is the only way it can keep all 52 libraries open in the wake of budget cuts.

SLAM campaigners claim that proper consultation was not carried out.

“We are hoping that the decision to force volunteers to run 10 libraries will be quashed, and that SCC will then consult with residents, library users and volunteers – and will consequently devise a long term vision for the library service that is sustainable, inclusive, and that recognises the value of well resourced and staffed libraries to local communities,” said SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey.

The long awaited high court clash over Surrey County Council’s (SCC) controversial plans for community run libraries, manned by volunteers, gets underway today.

The judicial review of SCC’s plan for 10 community run libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, has been brought by Surrey Action Against Library Movement (SLAM).

SCC has already opened one community library at Byfleet and believes the policy is the only way it can keep all 52 libraries open in the wake of budget cuts.

SLAM campaigners attended a rally and lobby at Parliament yesterday, organised by the national campaigning group, Speak Up For Libraries.

“The Council has given an ultimatum to local residents – volunteer to run your library or we will close it,” said SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey.

“The Council has not consulted local residents or library users over what they refer to themselves as a ‘radical’ plan.

“SCC has not listened to sensible alternatives that will actually save money and improve the service. Instead, they have ploughed on regardless with a policy that is unwanted, diminishes a service that consistently ranks the highest in satisfaction surveys of all Council provided services, and has cost more money to implement than it claims to save.”

Sensible adjustments

He added: “And let us not forget that the claimed savings amount to just 1/10,000th of the Council’s Budget in any case.

“That’s like a person on a salary of £25,000 needing to save the price of a cup of coffee from their annual spending.  

“You really have to ask whether it was worth the Council letting this go all the way to the High Court, with its attendant cost and effort, rather than just drop the plan or make suitable and sensible adjustments.”

Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: “From the start we’ve been determined to try and keep all 52 of Surrey’s libraries open while branches are closing elsewhere in the country.

“Inevitably people’s opinions about our plans have varied but we’ve been hugely encouraged by the support we’ve received from people who understand we are trying to do what is best for Surrey’s libraries.”

The Judicial Review will take place on Monday and Tuesday at the Royal Courts of Justice on The Strand in London.

Campaigners have won the right to carry out a judicial review of Surrey County Council’s (SCC) plan for 10 community run libraries.

The Surrey Action Against Library Movement (SLAM) will now have its case against the Council heard on 20 February.

The High Court also upheld an injunction halting any further progress on the scheme, which includes Lingfield and Warlingham libraries, until the judicial review is held.

However, it did grant permission for Byfleet library to go ahead with its plans to reopen as a community library last week  but this could be returned to a fully staffed venue if SLAM wins the judicial review.

Potential abuse of power

“We are very pleased with the outcome and were heartened by the Judge’s comments that SLAM has shown a considerable commitment and dedication to the library service, and  has shown significant resilience in coping with the hard work and stress necessary to bring to the Court’s attention this ‘potential abuse of power’ by Surrey County Council,” said SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey.

“This moment has been a long time coming. Surrey County Council has not consulted with library users, has not assessed the impacts of Community Partnered Libraries on the affected communities, and has avoided scrutiny of its plans at every turn.

“Now, finally, the Council’s plans will be held up to the scrutiny they have lacked throughout. It’s just a shame it’s taken an appeal to the High Court to achieve this.”

Disappointed

Surrey County Council said it was “disappointed” with the decision but was hopeful it could put its case forward at the Judicial Review.

“It’s important to say that the court has not passed judgement on our plans,” said Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for Community Services and the 2012 Games.

“This is just an order halting the process ahead of a hearing to look into our proposals.

“From the start we’ve been determined to try and keep all 52 of Surrey’s libraries open while branches are closing elsewhere in the country.

“The good news is that volunteers at Byfleet can go ahead with their plans, but overall we’re disappointed by the court’s decisions. It is a particular shame for those volunteers who were looking forward to launching their own community-run libraries.

“Inevitably people’s opinions about our plans have varied but we’ve been hugely encouraged by the support we’ve received from people who understand we are trying to do what is best for Surrey’s libraries.”

Surrey County Council has asked the High Court to lift an injunction against its community run libraries – but it has been accused of wasting tax payers money by an opposition campaign group.

The Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM) group  secured an injunction at the end of January, while it seeks permission for a full Judicial Review of the controversial policy.

Surrey County Council had planned to run 10 libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, under volunteer schemes as part of an overall bid to save £200m over four years.

“Our aim is to keep all of Surrey’s 52 libraries open and help them to thrive, while elsewhere in the country libraries are closing,” said David Hodge, Leader of Surrey County Council.

“The first community library is due to open in Byfleet in just over a week. Not only have volunteers put a lot of hard work into getting to this stage, but we believe these plans offer a good future for these libraries.

“We understand some people don’t agree with our efforts to help communities run their libraries, but we have received a lot of support from people that understand we are doing what is best for Surrey’s libraries and the people who use them.”

The council is also concerned that the temporary court order, which says the authority cannot take “any irrevocable action” towards implementing its libraries plans, is ambiguous and therefore should be reversed.

The county council does not believe it prevents the authority from continuing to work with the many volunteers who have come forward.

SLAM said the Council had turned an offer of a settlement.

“There is a sensible and cost-effective way out of this for Surrey County Council, but in not agreeing to put an end to the legal case, and bringing up technicality after technicality, the Conservatives at County Hall seem insistent on spending as much taxpayers’ money as possible on defending their ill-thought out plans,” said SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey.

Campaigners have won a High Court injunction halting Surrey County Council’s (SCC) plans for 10 community run libraries.

The Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM)group  said it was “very happy” the injunction had been secured.

The injunction means that the community run library scheme can not start before SLAM has sought permission for a Judicial Review.

Surrey County Council had planned to run 10 libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, under volunteer schemes as part of an overall bid to save £200m over four years while keeping all 52 libraries open.

SLAM has engaged the services of Public Interest Lawyers, who represented Gloucestershire and Somerset campaigners in their successful challenge. A High Court judge ruled that both councils must reverse their policies on libraries.

The injunction, issued by The Hon Mr Justice Wyn Williams, said: “The Defendant [Surrey County Council] shall take no irrevocable steps towards implementing the Community Partnered Libraries (CPLs) decision impugned in these proceedings until further order of this court.”

Surprise at speed

“We were as surprised as anyone that the injunction was issued so soon,” said SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey.

“We were expecting this stage to be about three weeks away – but see this as an endorsement of the strength of our case.

“We are, nonetheless, very happy that this decision was reached and can begin to prepare the full case without worrying about SCC going too far with their plans.”

A Surrey County Council spokesman said: “We are disappointed at the court’s decision.

“We understand that people care for libraries and that’s why we are working with local communities to keep all 52 Surrey libraries open.”

A campaign group has filed legal papers at the High Court calling for a judicial review of Surrey County Council’s (SCC) plan for community run libraries.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM) have ploughed ahead with its plans despite the Council’s claim it has missed the three-month deadline for an appeal.

Under the council plans 10 libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, would be manned by volunteers as part of an overall bid to save £200m over four years while keeping all 52 libraries open.

It claims the key decision was taken on 27 September – meaning Boxing Day was the last day for an appeal.

However, SLAM believes the final decision was not actually taken until 18 October – giving the group until 17 January to launch a judicial review bid.

The group has engaged the services of Public Interest Lawyers, who represented Gloucestershire and Somerset campaigners in their successful challenge. A High Court judge ruled that both councils must reverse their policies on libraries.

“We have taking this action only with great reluctance,” said SLAM’s Lee Godfrey.

“The library service in the affected communities will be severely diminished by these changes. Volunteers won’t be able to check user records or the catalogue and service standards will slip.

“This will have a particularly adverse impact on vulnerable members of the community, such as the very young, the elderly and those with accessibility issues.”

According to SLAM, community run libraries trialled in Leiwsham led to a reduction in book issues of between 53-89%.

Godfrey added: “Libraries are often the heartbeat of smaller towns and villages in Surrey. We fear the dismantling of these libraries will be the beginning of a period of managed decline for local communities. We just can’t let this happen.”

SCC now has three weeks to serve its evidence to the High Court, after which SLAM will seek an injunction to stop the Council making any further progress towards the creation of Community Partnered Libraries prior to a Judicial Review.

A Surrey County Council spokesman said: “We understand that people care for their libraries and that’s why we have come up with plans that aim to keep all 52 in Surrey open.

“Our plans mean we can focus on the more popular libraries while investing in the latest technologies to make them better.”