Nottingham may have to ‘accept reality’ of library closures amid financial crisis

By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

Nottingham City Council’s leadership says people may have to “accept the reality” of some library closures as the authority’s financial struggles continue.

The Labour-run council, which declared itself effectively bankrupt in November, is looking to save £1.5m over the next two years in its libraries service.

It has proposed to close the Basford, Bilborough, Radford-Lenton libraries and the historic Aspley Library. Jobs may also be cut and opening hours reduced under the plans, which are out for consultation.

Leader of the council Neghat Khan, deputy leader Ethan Radford, and senior councillor Sam Lux hosted a meeting with campaign group Save Nottingham Libraries on Monday (August 12) which they said aimed to “break down mistrust” and consider alternative options.

During the meeting at Central Library, Cllr Radford said leaders understand libraries are not causing the council to overspend significantly, and that it is largely social care where savings must be made.

But he said the libraries service as it stands is not in a “defensible position”.

Numerous concerns were voiced by campaigners.

Sian Steans, community organiser for the campaign and user of the Radford-Lenton Library, said the campaign group wanted to establish itself as a ‘Friends of Nottingham Libraries’ charity and work with the council on how best to run the service.

However she claimed they had been ignored by officers when approached two years ago.

She also said she was worried the council had been attempting to close libraries “by stealth”.

Ms Steans said cutting opening hours at libraries in the last budget round has inevitably resulted in lower footfall, a metric which the council is now using as a “primary” justification for closures.

“Using footfall on paper seems fair, but in reality is isn’t,” she added.

Alison Archer, who has lived in Aspley since the 1960s, argued the consultation had not been fair for users of her library because it has been closed for repairs.

“We want to believe [the leadership] is different [from previous councillors], but you get to a point where you have to be wary,” she said after the meeting.

Cllr Radford promised that if they can deliver the savings and make the libraries service defensible, the authority will not have to touch it again in future cuts.

Responding to campaigners’ claims, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service closure by stealth “is not a policy adopted by the council”.

“Adult social care children’s are the areas where we have the overspends, and where we need to put our focus on and to address those areas,” he added.

“But the current position the libraries service is in, we need to put it into a position where the service as defendable moving forward. We don’t have the means to provide it at its current level.”

Cllr Khan said the council faces a further £69m budget gap in 2025/26.

“So it’s not a case of just swapping [the libraries savings] out because we’ve got £69m more to find,” she said.

“It’s about protecting services, not always buildings.”

Asked if it is possible to save libraries from closure, Cllr Radford added: “It isn’t impossible.

“There may be a scenario where we have to accept the reality that some buildings will close.