£600k library cuts in York shelved as council reassesses strategy
Decision follows community feedback and review of service needs
Cuts worth £600,000 to the contract to run York’s libraries have been shelved.
A City of York Council report stated a review of library services carried out since the cuts were first approved in 2024 found now was not the right time to proceed with them.
Cllr Pete Kilbane, the authority’s Labour culture spokesperson, said the savings had proved difficult to achieve while maintaining the key role libraries play.
But opposition Liberal Democrat communities spokesperson Cllr Andrew Hollyer said Labour now needed to remove the threat of cuts for good to give libraries long-term support and certainty.
Jenny Layfield, chief executive of Explore York which runs local libraries, said they looked forward to working to ensure the treasured local assets continue to thrive for future generations.
It follows ongoing talks since the cuts were first approved in 2024 along with other cost-cutting measures aimed to close budget black holes currently forecast to be £9.65 million in 2027/8.
Explore has run the city’s libraries and archives since 2014 and also operates reading cafés, mobile and homes services and employs more than 80 people.
The £600,000 was originally set to be cut in two tranches of £300,000 over two years.
Explore’s chief executive said at the time they would not accept them as any changes to its contract had to be made with the agreement of both parties.
The council has said they informed Explore of reductions to their library needs assessment in line with good practice.
The cuts were delayed in September 2024 and were not included in the council’s budget for the following financial years though officials said achieving them remained an aspiration.
A report set to go before the council’s executive on Wednesday, September 9 stated a review in the last couple of years had asked people what they needed from libraries.
It added the feedback was used along with user data, demographics and other measures of demands to look at options for making future savings with Explore.
The report stated: “The outcome of the process has concluded that in relation to options put forward given the role libraries will play in the future, now is not the right time to make changes to the service.”
A spokesperson for Explore, which is independent of the council, said they agreed with the conclusion and were pleased attention could return to developing services and planning for the future.
Chief executive Ms Layfield said: “We are proud of the difference our staff, volunteers, members and supporters make every day and pleased that we can now focus our attention on the future of the service rather than potential reductions.”
Opposition Liberal Democrat communities spokesperson Cllr Hollyer said the climbdown was a major victory for York’s libraries and followed his party’s campaign to save them.
The Liberal Democrat said: “Labour insisted savings had to be made from the library service, we rejected that choice and warned that it could put staff, local services and York’s mobile library at risk.
“Libraries tackle isolation, help people access computers and support, provide places to learn and bring residents together.
“We welcome this retreat, but we will remain vigilant.”
Cllr Kilbane said they appreciated everyone’s passion for libraries but added alarmist Liberal Democrat claims about the cuts had hindered rather than helped the process.
The executive member said: “As a responsible administration we cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend the council’s finances are fine, so we have worked with Explore to look at options for delivering efficiencies and sustainable savings.
“At the same time, we are changing the way services are delivered in York so they’re more efficient and better connected to local communities.
“In this context, the library savings proved difficult to achieve while maintaining the key role that libraries play in our neighbourhoods.”