Tandridge Buzz

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.”

Surrey County Council believes the campaign group seeking a judicial review of its community run library plans have acted too late in the day.

The Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM) wants a judicial review of the council’s plans to cut costs.

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.

But Surrey County Council has responded saying it believes SLAM has missed the three-month window for a judicial review.

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.

“Suffice to say, nothing in their response justifies withdrawing professional staff from 10 libraries and making them volunteer run and, in fact, there is plenty in their response to suggest that out case is strong,” said SLAM chairman Mike Alsop.

“That being the case, our lawyers will be issuing legal proceedings early next week.”

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.”