THINK AGAIN
Council votes against moving service to new hub
TOWN hall chiefs have been told to think again over controversial plans to move Stockport’s historic library to a new £14.5m hub.
Bosses last month signed off on the scheme that would see services transferred from the current building on the A6 to a 47,000 square foot ‘learning and discovery’ centre at Merseyway.
Dubbed ‘Stockroom’, it would also boast a performance area, sensory room, museum pieces and ‘best in class’ toilet facilities.
But relocating the library from its Carnegieendowed, Grade II-listed home has been hugely contentious, with thousands signing petitions and the Tory and Lib Dem groups both opposed to the idea.
The row culminated in a vote at Thursday night’s full council meeting for Labour to rescind its decision and explore how library services can continue at the existing Central Library building.
Backed by the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens, it means the cabinet will have to reconsider whether to push on with the scheme in its current form when it meets next month.
The motion – which also urged bosses to explore whether government funding hinges on providing library services at Stockroom – was moved by the Tories’ deputy leader, Councillor John McGahan.
Coun McGahan claimed the protracted dispute had been caused by the Labour administration not being ‘open about the real long term proposals’.
He said: “The failure to accept the viewpoint of anyone other than themselves and the dismissal of valid public and member concerns has been somehow ignorant, dogmatic or intended to cause inconvenience to others.”
Coun McGahan added that a ‘clear majority’ of respondents to the public consultation had opposed the move, and opposition in the form of residents’ petitions and letters should also be taken into account.
He continued: “We very much welcome the investment of £14.5m at Stockroom. But we would like to see other uses for this facility explored fully and library services kept at Central Library.”
The Conservative said scrutiny committees had asked repeatedly whether it was certain the cash would be pulled should the Stockroom plans be changed – but ‘not one single cabinet member’ had ever confirmed whether they had spoken to the government about this.
“It appears to us that the understanding between council and government does contain the possibility of at least the discussion of change and, potentially, a form of procedure on this,” he said.
The motion was seconded by the Lib Dems’ Coun Lisa Smart, who said Labour had failed to listen and ‘pushed on’ in the belief they had ‘the right answer’.
“It’s a real opportunity for the cabinet to accept the need for another go at this decision,” she added.
Labour has long argued that Stockroom would be more inclusive and accessible than the current Central Library, providing opportunities for the borough’s most deprived and disadvantaged communities.
Coun David Sedgwick cabinet member for citizen focus and engagement - said his group had ‘clearly’ made the case for the benefits of Stockroom.
“We all know the improvements to accessibility, we all know the event space, we all know the education space,” he said.
“We all know we are able to have all the books we have in Central Library on display. Let’s not forget that a significant chunk of the books we have within our stock, can’t actually be held at Central Library.”
Coun Sedgwick noted that Central Library visitor numbers were continuing to fall at an ‘alarming rate’ – a trend it was ‘imperative’ for the council to address.
“I believe that what we are offering in Stockroom does exactly that,” he said.
And he rejected accusations the cabinet had not been listening.
He said chiefs had taken on board the public’s affection for Central Library and had guaranteed it would remain ‘owned by the people of Stockport’ – preferably as a new home for the town’s adult education centre.
While the meeting was often heated, Coun Sedgwick did hint at a potential compromise.
“I am open to having a conversation in a crossparty way about what we can do to have some element of book-borrowing and other library service provision at the Central Library building and I’m happy to do so,” he told councillors.
However, Coun Tom McGee, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, appeared to take a harder line.
He said: “We need a plan with a vision. One that looks at people who are marginalised, one that looks at people who can’t access, one that looks at people who are deprived of access, one where people are welcomed in - not excluded because they’ve got disabilities or are ambulantly poor.”
Addressing opposition councillors he added: “That’s the vision you should have, not the vision you’ve got.”
The meeting ultimately voted to refer the decision back to cabinet for reconsideration by 30 votes to 22 - with one abstention.
In a statement released after the meeting, council leader Elise Wilson said her cabinet would ‘take time to reflect’ before its meeting next month.
She said: “We simply cannot ignore the huge decline in usage of the current Central Library building which has seen visitor numbers almost halve in eight years – falling from more than 200,000 people a year in 2013 to less than 120,000 visitors a year while book loans by young people have similarly plummeted.”
The town hall boss added: “But we also know that Central Library is a unique asset which is cherished and that is why we have already pledged to safeguard it’s future and committed that it will not be demolished, abandoned and that public access for this muchloved part of Stockport’s heritage will be retained.
“I am grateful to all those residents, stakeholders and councillors that have put forward their views so far on this very important decision and my Cabinet will take time to further reflect before we reconvene in February.”
“It’s a real opportunity for the cabinet to accept the need for another go at this decision.”