TORIES HAVE FAILED TO PUT FORWARD ANY ALTERNATIVES TO NEW MILL LIBRARY CLOSURE

11.58.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Jul 2009

The closure of the Library actually stems from a failure by Conservative councillors.

At this afternoon's meeting of Kirklees Cabinet a report on the future of New Mill Library will be considered by members. Cllr Stanfield - Cabinet member for Regeneration - will make the following statement at the meeting.

She will point out that the decision to the close New Library is being made on a purely financial basis. She will also point out to those gathered that the closure of the Library actually stems from a failure by Conservative councillors on two counts.

Firstly, their failure to object to the budget proposal containing details of the closure when they themselves unanimously supported it at full council in February,

Secondly, their failure to come forward at any time over the course of the last four months of objections to explain which libraries they think should be closed in place of the New Mill facility,

Cllr Stanfield will say:

"Kirklees Council, like other public bodies, are coming under increasing financial pressure and have to make budget reductions. At the Council Meeting on 25 February, all political Parties accepted that a saving of £71,000 had to be found from the Libraries budget. Council Officers proposed six options, and the current Administration chose New Mill Library from those options. The Conservatives did not oppose that decision then and over the past four months they have failed to identify which libraries they would close to achieve the required savings. It was hoped that at Wednesday's Cabinet Meeting the Conservative Group would give the Cabinet a list of alternative savings or which libraries they would close in order to keep New Mill Library open. After repeated request from the Cabinet, this did not happen and New Mill Library will have to close".