A final decision on whether four Nottingham libraries will be saved from closure is set to be made in the coming days. Plans first revealed in May 2024 would see Nottingham City Council reducing its library network from 15 to 11 by shutting the Bilborough, Aspley, Basford and Radford-Lenton sites.
A consultation signed by an “unprecedented” number of people, more than 5,000, saw several charities, organisations and other voluntary groups come forward to express an interest in continuing to run the four threatened libraries in partnership with the council. Councillor Sam Lux, the executive member for carbon reduction, leisure and culture at Nottingham City Council, confirmed late last year that “every possible alternative” to closing libraries was therefore being considered, but said there was no guarantee of the sites staying open.
The council’s final decision is now set to be confirmed in days, with a meeting of the Nottingham Labour group controlling the authority taking place on Thursday (January 16). A report on “library provision and service delivery to 2030” is then set to be presented to a public meeting of top councillors next Tuesday (January 21).
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The report containing the final decision should be published before next Tuesday’s meeting and it is understood that it will be made public shortly after the Labour group have privately met first on Thursday. Des Conway, a Sherwood resident who has been a longstanding campaigner against Nottingham library closures, said: “I’ve had conflicting reports, but one of the councillors indicated that Radford-Lenton will be safe and then the other three are going to be passed over to the third sector under some sort of arrangement.”
Mr Conway says he has also heard suggestions that all four libraries might end up staying as they are, something which he said would be the preferred outcome. The campaigner added: “Passing the libraries over to third parties would be better than closing, but volunteers with the best will in the world would find the maintenance and bills a bit of a nightmare.”
The library cut plans are among several being considered to try to prevent Nottingham City Council from having to effectively declare bankruptcy again. The council is aiming to achieve savings worth £1.5 million from the “review of library services” alone, with other proposals including a cut to opening hours across the network, a reduction in staff and a cut in the budget for books.
Councillor Lux previously said: “We are fully aware these decisions will shape library provision across the city for the next decade and ultimately our goal is to secure [a library service] that offers modern, welcoming, safe spaces that act as as a gateway to support services, enhance digital inclusion and continue to provide essential resources in areas of high need. In short, we want to ensure libraries remain viable, multi-use hubs at the heart of our communities.”