Campaigners to fight on as library cuts approved

Campaigners have vowed to continue to fight cuts to Birmingham's library service after senior councillors signed them off.

The city council plans to save £2.285m annually from next year by reducing overall library opening times by a third and outsourcing the running of seven sites.

Jim Wells, from the Friends of Erdington Library, said his group would still be "campaigning very strongly" to get a cut in opening times reversed.

Councillor Saima Suleman, cabinet member for culture, said a plan to merge library and advice services would keep them "in safe spaces, open to all".

The savings form part of wider budget cuts of about £148m after the authority declared itself effectively bankrupt in September 2023.

Under the plans, 10 community libraries will become hubs, opening for a minimum of four days with a wider range of services.

Seventeen others will open for a minimum of three days and seven will become "partner-led".

According to a report to cabinet, the proposals would mean a loss of 38 jobs.

Merging with the council's Neighbourhood Advice & Information Service will create a new Connected Communities service, meaning some libraries will also house resident-support workers, a spokesperson adds.

Suleman told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday it was a "positive step" all part-time libraries would open for a minimum of three days rather than an initial proposal of two.

"We think that's a result of a massive campaign," said Mr Wells. "There's been some major concessions from where we were back in July.

"We're still very, very disappointed with the overall picture they've presented."

He outlined how a temporary closure of Erdington library in July on a Monday had become permanent.

The former teacher added: "Erdington is an area that suffers high levels of deprivation – how much does one day cost?"

"It's such a petty closure in my view and we want it back to what it was."

Rukhsana Malik has campaigned to save Hall Green Library, which will drop from a four to three-day week.

She claimed the council was slowly reducing its hours since 2017.

"Due to staffing they had to shut some libraries temporarily over the summer for an extra day a week but that's never been reinstated," she said.

"It's a high deprivation ward – people don't have internet at home. Parents can't afford to buy their kids books.

"If the library is not there, the children will not be able to read."

Emma Lochery, from the Birmingham Loves Libraries campaign, called for the council to commit to a return to four and five-day weeks when its finances "are in a better state".

She wanted the authority to release details of which days each library would open.

"As a campaign we want as many libraries as possible to open on Saturdays," she said.

"We also want to see libraries open after 17:00 GMT."

The cabinet report also suggested Boldmere, Walmley and Sutton Coldfield libraries could become fully funded by Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.

However, Conservative Sutton Coldfield town councillor John Cooper, who is campaigning in the Vesey ward, said his authority could not commit without further financial details .

"The town council pay currently £137,0000 and have done for seven or eight years to keep the central library in Sutton town centre open," he said.

"They are prepared to consider the possibility of more funding or even taking over Walmley and Boldmere libraries...but officers have applied to Birmingham for some financial information and it's not being forthcoming."

Councillor Suleman acknowledged to the Birmingham cabinet that no formal agreement had been reached.

"I am keen to continue ongoing dialogue with Sutton Town Council to address the future provision of library services in Sutton," she said.

Birmingham City Council was contacted for a response to Mr Cooper's comments.

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