NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL PROPOSED CUTS THREATEN THE FUTURE OF HIGHAM FERRERS LIBRARY

Northamptonshire County Council needs to find £115m savings over the next 4 years predominantly to meet social care costs in the county. One of the services under threat is the Library and Information Service including Higham Ferrers Library.

The County Council is consulting on 3 options. Under option 2 and 3 there will be no library in Higham Ferrers. Under option 1 there will be support for a community managed Library.

What does this mean for the Town Council?

By the 13^th January 2018 a group has to express an informal Expression of Interest in managing the library. Due to the time constraints being imposed, which the Town Council consider unreasonable, and the size of the library, the only group that could possibly do this is the Town Council. The Town Council would have to purchase or lease the building and be responsible for building costs and any staffing costs. To buy the building is possibly in excess of £300,000. A market valuation is expected to be available on 22^nd December. Under a 2 year service level agreement the County Council would fund books and the IT provision.

The Town Council is trying to gather all the information it needs to be make a reasoned and balanced decision, at the same time as trying to set budgets for 2017/19. The Town Council will not be able to take over the service from the County Council without increasing council tax. The Town Council won't know which option the County Council has chosen until late February, which is after the Town Council has had to set its budget and then by 31^st March it has to provide a full business case and submit a formal expression of interest. The library would be handed over by the end of September 2018.

The library is only one of the services that may be affected by cuts at the County Council. The full impact of other cuts on Higham Ferrers is not yet known. The Town Council has to also factor this unknown into their decision making.

The Town Council urges residents to let the County Council know their views on the proposed cuts to services. A consultation for the library is available on www.northamptonshire.gov.uk The Town Council is also running its own consultation which has been delivered to every house in Higham Ferrers. If you want to know more please visit www.highamferrers-tc.gov.uk or email clerk@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk.