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Tory councillors hold Upper Norwood Joint Library to ransom

Tory Councillors hold Upper Norwood library to ransom

The Upper Norwood Joint Library Committee attempted to hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 15 September. As a result of Croydon’s Tory council continuing to refuse to allow the democratically elected Councillors from South & Upper Norwood to sit on the Committee, Lambeth councillors decided to boycott the meeting.

The Upper Norwood Library has always been represented by local councillors. At last May’s local elections, Tory Councillors in South & Upper Norwood lost their seats to Labour, and instead of appointing Labour Councillors from those wards to the committee, the Conservatives in Croydon have insisted on imposing their Cabinet Members who represent wards in the south of the Borough. The library is funded jointly with Lambeth Council.

Upper Norwood Councillor Pat Ryan said:

“Upper Norwood Joint Library is unique and is the only independent library in the country. The Joint Agreement between Lambeth and Croydon clearly states that local councillors should be represented on the Joint Committee, that is local councillors from South & Upper Norwood wards. This is part of an agreement that Croydon Conservatives are now desperately trying to renege on.

As the Tories did at the last AGM, which had to be abandoned for the same reason, a council officer was unfairly forced to account for a political decision. It is a complete disgrace and affront to local democracy.

Councillor Steve O’Connell is the latest stooge to impose himself on the Committee. He might be the GLA Member, but he has never shown an interest in the library in all the years he has been on the GLA. Why now? Is there an election coming up? Does he feel the need to justify being the highest paid Councillor in the country? Doesn’t he have enough to do with his five jobs?”

South Norwood Councillor Wayne Lawlor said:

“Whilst Upper & South Norwood Councillors are standing up for the community, Croydon Conservatives are trampling over it. I was astounded that Tory Councillors had the gall to blame Lambeth Councillors when it is Croydon that continues to try and opt out of the agreement and ignore community demands to have local Councillors from South & Upper Norwood represented on the Upper Norwood Joint Library Committee. We’re not asking for much, just consistency and fairness.

The future of Upper Norwood Joint Library is now uncertain because Croydon Conservatives insist on using libraries as a political football.”

Cllr Maggie Mansell, Labour’s spokesperson for Libraries said:

“I cannot see what the Tories think they are doing. The Council role is to agree the budget. The joint committee deals with the detail of how to provide services most appropriate for community needs, best known to local councillors”