Putting Croydon First

Labour: fighting for you across Croydon

Labour stands shoulder to shoulder with communities on libraries

At a meeting on Labour’s Shadow Cabinet, which was held in public on Monday 6 June, Tim Coates, former Chief Executive of Waterstone’s book stores, urged Croydon Council not to privatise the library service.

Croydon’s Conservative council recently released plans to privatise libraries across the borough, a step they say is needed to save cash. At the Shadow Cabinet meeting in Monday, Cllr Sara Bashford, Cabinet Member for Libraries admitted that the council plans to privatise the library service.

Labour Leader Cllr Tony Newman said: “The meeting was designed to give members of the public a say, as well as question Tim Coates and Cllr Bashford. Even Tory councillors recognised that and publicly commended us for that.

The strength of feeling against privatising our libraries is a strong as the feelings against closure. Cllr Maggie Mansell, Labour spokesperson for Libraries, and I are proposing that Cllr Fisher now commissions Mr Coates to help save the service and keep it in public ownership – where it belongs.”

Labour’s spokesperson, Cllr Maggie Mansell said: “I hope Croydon Council take up Mr Coates offer of help and Commissions his service. It is clear that there is no need or desire for privatisation. Any move in this direction would be in ideological grounds, not need”.

Tim Coates said: “I urge Councillors not to privatise the library service. Reduce your overheads. Privatising the library service will do more harm than good”.