 |
Strong Local Voice, Strong Local ChampionAnnette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole |
 |
Annette Brooke MP Highlights Library Closures in Commons
March 1, 2011 4:18 PM
Annette Brooke, Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole, yesterday questioned Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on whether councils will have to publish measures taken to avoid cuts to front-line services, bringing attention to the plight of libraries facing closure.
During Communities and Local Government Question Time, Mrs Brooke highlighted the suggestion made by the Secretary of State that local authorities work together on measures to protect local services, and asked whether councils would be forced to show that such measures had been exhausted.
Mr Pickles responded by celebrating transparency in local government, stating that the ability of citizens to scrutinize council spending was important. He agreed with Mrs Brooke that councils must justify such cuts, and said that if "people are closing down valuable community assets, they should make a very strong case for doing so".
Annette has continually campaigned against the closure of libraries, speaking out in Parliament against the closure of the four Dorset libraries situated in her constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole, and highlighting the plight of the 20 out of Dorset County Council's 34 libraries facing closure.
Annette said: "I commend the Secretary of State for his support for local government transparency. Libraries play such a vital role for people of all ages and for society as a whole, and they are, and should be, the heart and soul of our communities. Councils should be clear about what measures they have taken to support such an important service, which should be defended against closure wherever possible."
Ends
Full Text of Questions:
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD): When a council has made a significant cut to a front-line service, such as by withdrawing support from 20 libraries, would it be possible to require that council to publish on its website the measures that it has taken to try to protect the service? Such measures could include working with other local authorities, as the Secretary of State has suggested.
Mr Pickles: The great thing about transparency is that a number of citizens are looking at their local council and asking it questions if it is closing down swimming baths or libraries while spending on things that do not relate to front-line services. I think that transparency is a very good thing. If people are closing down valuable community assets, they should make a very strong case for doing so.