Hackney Unison slams council’s ‘sham’ library cuts consultation

Hackney Unison members lobby outside Hackney Central Library (13 June). Photograph: Hackney Unison

A trade union has hit out at Hackney Council for what it describes as a ‘flawed’ public consultation about how cuts to Hackney’s library service will be implemented.

Public services union Unison claims council bosses have already decided how to carry out proposals to axe jobs and cut library based events despite having not yet completed a public consultation.

“Consultation should be meaningful and in this case it seems management have already made up their minds about how the libraries should be run in the future,” said Branch Secretary of Hackney Unison, Matthew Waterfall.

The canvassing of public opinion had been “plagued by poor organisation and a lack of engagement”, Waterfull added, and publicity regarding the consultation meetings had failed to give adequate notice.

Responding to the accusation, Hackney Council told the Citizen that drop-in sessions were advertised in libraries, on the Hackney Council website and in Hackney Today.

The spokesperson acknowledged that only one member of the public had turned up for a consultation event at CLR James Library in April, but other sessions had been more successful, with 30 attending at Hackney Central library and 60 at Stoke Newington.

If agreed, the council’s proposals will mean 13 full-time library services jobs will go, along with a further six managerial posts.

Unison is concerned that proposed longer opening hours at some libraries, combined with the reduction in staffing, could result in some libraries being unable to open on days when staff are sick or on annual leave.

However the council insists these fears are premature.

“There have been no changes to opening hours and no decisions will be made until we have analysed the responses to the consultation which ends at the end of the month,” a council spokesperson said.

But cuts to the number of library based events would go ahead.

“The council is proposing to concentrate a reduced number of events and activities at the three main libraries: Dalston CLR James, Hackney Central and Stoke Newington,” the spokesperson added. “These events will be organised by trained library staff. Events for children will continue to be held at all libraries.”

The public consultation on Hackney Council’s Libraries and Archives strategy ends on Monday 27 June 2011.

Members of the public are encouraged to have their say by completing the council’s questionnaire.

Note: this article was revised at 22:45 on Friday 24 June 2011.