Published: 14 April 2011
by DAN CARRIER

PRIVATE companies have asked to take Camden’s libraries off the Town Hall’s hands, the New Journal has learned.

The firms, which have made a formal approach to the council, were likened by critics to “buzzards” for showing an interest in a takeover at a stage when Camden admits it does not have enough money to fully protect all branches.

Already a matter of fierce dispute, the future of the borough’s libraries was ramped up the Town Hall agenda even further on Monday when Mayor of Camden Jonathan Simpson agreed to hold an “extraordinary” full council meeting to discuss the issue.

The session, likely to be held within two weeks and secured by a request from the Liberal Democrats, will force councillors to vote one way or another on closures. It sets up the prospect of a re-run of the tempestuous debates of 1998 when Labour councillors ignored party whips to keep branches open.

There have been 5,000 responses from library users to Camden’s current consultation – and they include the fresh approach from private companies.

One of them, LSSI, confirmed it had made a “formal submission”.

Jim Lynch, vice president of LSSI, confirmed that he had been looking at making a bid to manage the libraries on behalf of the Town Hall.

He said: “We visited Camden libraries and  are doing some number crunching. We would be  interested in a management contract. We are confident that we can keep all branches open and sustain current opening hours whilst making significant financial savings. 

“We would also protect the book fund at its 2010/11 level. Central to this approach would be direct management of Camden libraries by LSSI. In doing so we would also look to work with community groups to develop their involvement in their library.”

Construction company John Laing, which has branched out to provide other services, has also been considering tabling a proposal to take libraries off the  council’s hands.

In a statement to the New Journal, the firm said: “We have been in talks concerning library service provision with a number of local authorities, including Camden.”

Unison officer Philip Lewis said: “These private companies are like buzzards in the desert picking on the bones of public services. We oppose this. They must be publicly accountable.”

He added he feared that it would lead to hidden charges for users.

“These are private companies who have to turn a profit. It is not a philanthropic venture,” he said.

At the scheduled full council meeting on Monday night, a deputation led by Hampstead-based novelist Deborah Moggach called for the council to keep all libraries open.

She said: “None of us envy the hideous decisions you have to make in light of the huge budget cuts, but I believe if anyone votes for closures, when they look back over their lives, they will feel a great sense of shame. Libraries are beyond price. They are our street corner universities.  They are the centre of our community. They  are one of our few remaining unprivatised public spaces, where nothing is demanded of us, where knowledge if free.

“Where there is a will there is a way. It is all a question of priorities. And we all know once a library is closed it is dead forever. None should be closed because each branch library is different – each reflects its local users and each is unique and irreplaceable.”

Friends of Belsize Library committee member Elaine Hallgarten said that while the Friends had yet to make a formal stance on private companies coming in, she believed the council would need to write a strongly worded contract so if a private company did not match up to users’ expectations, they could have the service taken away from them.

The consultation has also seen calls for closer links with neighbouring boroughs, and using volunteers to cut costs.

A Town Hall press official said: “Camden has had exploratory discussions with other councils to see if there is scope to share services, but there are no firm plans in place.

“However, we are taking forward discussions with Islington to look at whether sharing elements of library provision would be feasible and would save both authorities money.”

Lib Dem leader Keith Moffitt said: “We believe that the starting point should be that none of our 13 existing libraries should close, and the meeting will give all councillors a chance to support that approach.”

Conservative leader Councillor Andrew Mennear said: “People are more interested in keeping their services running – rather than what the management structure is. We have already called for more sponsorship of services to help financially and we’re not against some commercialisation.”

Labour finance chief Theo Blackwell said the fresh meeting was a lazy attempt at political point scoring.

He said: “There is a sense that they want to relive 1998 all over again. But we are in a different place economically from the last time library services were discussed.”