Nottingham City Council has been criticised for positively rating its commitment to providing a network of libraries which meet the needs of the city's citizens at a time when three are still at risk of closure. Discussions are still underway as to whether three 'vital' libraries across the city should be axed as part of a plan to save just under £80,000 a year.
The Labour-run authority had detailed five options to save three libraries after thousands of residents, organisations and a campaign group condemned plans to axe them and save just £79,000. It was initially understood the savings from closing the Basford, Aspley and the Radford-Lenton libraries would total £233,000, to be phased over three years between 2021 and 2024.
However after a "restructure of frontline services", which provided a saving of £154,000 to date, shutting the three sites would only save a remaining £79,000 each year. The council had been arguing its current financial situation and continued pressure from a Government-appointed improvement board, had forced the council to enact difficult decisions to save every penny possible.
