Panel examines changes to opening times
ROYAL BOROUGH: Findings from a consultation on reducing library opening hours were debated at a council scrutiny panel last week, writes Kieran Bell.
A survey was conducted in September last year seeking people’s views on Royal Borough plans to cut library opening times.
Cabinet is due to vote on whether to approve the amended hours at a meeting tonight (Thursday).
Key changes – set to take place from June 1 – include Maidenhead and Windsor libraries opening on Sundays.
However there will be earlier closure times on Mondays and Tuesdays at Maidenhead (5.30pm).
The council hopes to make a saving of £145,000 through these alterations.
The Royal Borough said that it had received 1,815 responses to the consultation, which was originally due to take place in
March.
Key points from the survey saw a preference for later opening hours to fit in with young and
working people; and a need for people to use the libraries to access the internet.
W Cllr Helen Price (TBF, Clewer and Dedworth East) queried earlier in the meeting whether the borough was ‘back to normal’ with waste collections, claiming that ‘we still get residents who find that
bins do not get collected on time’.
Cllr David Coppinger (Con, Bray), lead member for waste, said: “As far as my information is, the service is now running at a normal level. There will always be a certain number missed, which is normally because [crews] can’t get access to roads.”