Libraries block "payday loan" websites

WEBSITES for “payday loan” companies have been blocked on library computers in Solihull.

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Library visits up despite cuts

VISITS to Solihull libraries have risen despite cuts in staff, stock and spending, new research shows.

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Knowle Library hours to be cut

OPENING hours are to be cut at Knowle Library from April next year.

               
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Council savings: libraries face cuts

LIBRARY opening hours and book loan times are to be reduced under council savings plans – but the price of taking out a DVD will hugely fall.

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Library cuts expected

THE prospect of further cuts to Solihull’s libraries service has been raised as part of latest council cost cutting measures.

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Adult education programme axed

A MAJOR adult education programme is to be scrapped at Solihull libraries.

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Library volunteers a "dangerous precedent"

A PLAN to use volunteers fill axed opening hours at Knowle library sets a “dangerous precedent” a union has warned.

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Library volunteers step in after council cuts

VOLUNTEERS have stepped in to open Knowle Library on Saturday afternoon after hours were cut by council bosses.

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Volunteer call for cuts-hit Knowle Library

VOLUNTEERS are being sought to staff Knowle Library, which has seen opening hours reduced by the council to save cash.

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Audio books on mp3 now at library

SOLIHULL Library is now stocking audio books on mp3 discs.

Some 65 titles are available with whole books on one or two discs, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said.

Space adventure is kids' book choice

YOUNG bookworms have awarded this year’s Solihull Children’s Book Award to space adventure Cosmic.

More than 280 children voted for their favourite of three shortlisted books, Ctrl-Z by Andrew Norriss, Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce, and Sisters of the Sword: The Warriors Path by Maya Snow.

The finalists attended an awards event at Solihull Arts Complex. Cosmic tells the story of an unusually tall boy who boards a mission to the moon.

Email your news and events to news@thesilhillian.co.uk.

E-books for libraries

SOLIHULL libraries are to stock electronic versions of books from later this year.

A posting on the Solihull Libraries Facebook page says: “A number of our staff are currently playing around with ebook readers in anticipation of a new library service being launched later this year.

“We would be interested to find out your experience of ebooks. For example, do you already own an ereader? Or maybe you don't like the thought of reading from a screen and prefer... the printed form. Feel free to leave us a comment!”

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Cuts to opening hours at Knowle Library revealed

KNOWLE Library will close early on Mondays and at lunchtime on Saturdays in a bid to save cash, councillors have agreed.

The High Street branch will close at 5pm on Monday compared to 7pm now and 2pm on Saturday rather than 5pm. See the full list here.

The changes will come into affect some time in the 12 months after April.

The cut in hours is part of cash savings across the borough by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

The authority is bidding to save more than £12m to close a financial gap.

A council report says: “Proposals have been based on a compromise between the cost of service delivery, local public demand and consultation, access to library services and member consultation.”

It said ‘local intelligence’ from managers, how much branches are used and the closeness of other libraries were taken into account.

Castle Bromwich, Dickens Heath, Hobs Moat, Kingshurst and Olton are also affected and the move will save a total £95,000. Balsall Common was mooted for closure but not included in the decision.

The report adds: “The reduction in opening hours will mean that staff rotas will need to change and staff will be required to work at more than one site in order to complete
their hours.

“It is envisaged that staff will be slotted into vacant posts that exist within libraries.”

The authority also wants to save £27,000 by reducing manager posts by not filling vacant roles.

Charges to hire rooms at other libraries will be raised and introduced. Click here for details.

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Hours to be cut at Knowle Library

OPENING hours at Knowle library are set to be slashed to save cash.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council this week will be asked to cut opening hours from 39 hours a week to 32. Read current opening hours here.

It is one of seven affected, including Balsall Common. It is hoped the move – to take affect from April – will save £95,000.

A council report says the move will “reflect the pattern of customer use and need which could be achieved by planned approach to vacancy management”.

The move comes after a raft of costs including DVD and photocopying were raised at the library – though a move to charge for free services will not go ahead this year.

The council’s library service to schools will also be axed, to save £58,000.

The average council tax bill will increase by 2.18 per cent, about £28, in April, it was confirmed this week.

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Library DVD costs to rise

THE cost of renting a DVD from Solihull libraries is to go up by 20p.

The price will rise from £2.10 to £2.30 from April 1, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has agreed.

This will be £1.15 from £1.05 for children. CD hire will rise 5p to 55p.

A raft of price increase have been approve, including a 47.6 per cent increase in colour photocopy costs, from £1.05 to £1.55.

See the figures here.

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£60 for another bin plan

HOUSEHOLDERS could be offered an extra green bin and collections in the winter – but at a price.

In the second of a series of articles about proposed budget cuts at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, The Silhillian looks at the community services department.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is considering introducing an extra bin for £60 a year. It hopes 200 homes would take up the offer, netting it £2,750 next year, 2010/11.

In a report it says “many residents claim that provision of one bin does not meet their needs, especially those residents with large gardens”.

And it could introduce a monthly green bin collection between December and March for £30.

A report says: “Residents who wished to participate in the scheme would be required to pay for the full 4 collections even if they intended to utilise just one or two.

“They would be asked to display a colour-coded sticker on their bin to demonstrate that they had paid the additional charge.”

It hopes 1,000 homes will take up the service and this will net the council £8,400 next year.

The council says there could be a "potential negative reaction to charging" as "some authorities provide at no cost".

The changes are one of many across all council services aimed at saving cash at the authority which, like other public bodies, faces a major cash squeeze. The council says it is amongst the lowest funded in England.

The department could also close the mobile library service..

The authority is in discussions with neighbouring Warwickshire County Council over the future of the service.

It would be scrapped at April 2011 at the earliest and the council said “implications need to be fully considered”.

Proposals for the 12 months from April also include reducing opening hours at seven libraries – including Knowle and Balsall Common – from 39 to 32 to save £95,000 next year.

Council papers says this “reflects the pattern of customer use and need which could be
achieved by planned approach to vacancy management”.

Other savings in the department for 2010/11 include:

• Removing some bedding plants and bedding areas. Saving: £22,000.
• Scrapping the schools library services, where schools buy books and activities from the council. It says use is declining and savings would come through not filling empty posts. Saving: £58,000.
• Charge for library “services and facilities currently provided free of charge”. No detail is given and any changes would be in 2011/12, not next year.
• Delay replacing recycling and litter bins. Saving: £30,000.
• Charging for detailed forestry advice, currently free, to make £15,750 next year.
• Removing half of parks changing rooms, from 2011/12 at the earliest. These could be saved by third parties, it says. Saving: £50,000.
• Hiring out Solihull Arts Complex more to make £10,000.
• Increasing collection costs for bulky waste (not including fridges and freezers) from £10.66 to £15. The council admits this could see an increase in fly-tipping.

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Discount card plan for leisure centres

A LEISURE card should be introduced for council-run facilities such as swimming pools and libraries in a bid to help low income residents, a report has urged.

A review by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said all residents should be offered the discount card – with low income residents getting bigger savings.

Young people, the over 60s, unemployed and disabled would also get discounts through the card, which would be free or “low” cost.

The card would apply to its leisure and cultural services such as swimming pools and libraries but could be later extended to other services such as car parking and music tuition.

It is hoped the move would encourage people on low incomes, who tend to suffer more problems such as obesity, to live healthier lives.

The council owns or part-owns facilities including Solihull Arts Complex, Tudor Grange Leisure Centre and Solihull Ice Rink.

If accepted by ruling councillors, the scheme would be up and running by January 2011 and cost £60,000 to £70,000 a year and £20,000 to launch.

A council report said while it “might not be considered as the best time for embarking on the proposed issue of a concessionary card” the scheme would be at the lowest possible cost to the council.

Yet the authority admits there is no cash set aside for the project in its plans and this would need “further consideration” by finance bosses.

The authority rejected the card idea in 2000 over cost, perceived loss of income from leisure centres, fears of low up-take, its offer to only those on low income and offering “a small number of benefits”, says the report.

Yet the national councils watchdog said the authority had to develop “a more consistent and effective approach” to pricing to help poorer people.

It warned there was a “mismatch” between the council saying it wanted to help people live healthier lives and the prices of its leisure facilities.

The SMBC report says: “The introduction of such card scheme would also allow greater price reduction to be put in place for low-income groups.”

And it said giving cardholders discounts for other businesses such as shops should be considered. It would be available at leisure centres and libraries.

A final decision is expected by the summer.

Click here for full details of the council’s leisure and cultural facilities.