Libraries' future is up for debate
IT IS looking almost certain that an outside organisation will take over the running of Croydon's libraries.
Work has been completed on analysing initial bids to run the service and Councillor Sara Bashford, the council's cabinet member for culture and sport, said: "The recommendation going to cabinet will be to go out to tender."
The report making the recommendation will go before the council's community services and safety scrutiny sub-committee today, before being presented to cabinet on September 19.
It follows a public backlash that led to Croydon Council dropping original plans to close six branch libraries in a bid to save money.
Comments
by ShBurnham
Friday, September 09 2011, 9:45AM
“Only today come reports from California announcing the successful passage of a Bill through the Senate. AB438 will restrict the ability of local governments to contract with private firms to run libraries, including requirements to have public hearings and conduct studies to assess the impact of privatisation. In Croydon we now see a council which is perceived to make its decisions behind closed doors. Public hearings, Impact studies ? Forget it ! If I, not a resident of Croydon, and others throughout the country are watching your story carefully it is because the issue is in the public interest and, incidentally, seems to be an example of a strange, worrying way of administering local democracy.”