Wokingham privatisation pulled?

I spotted this on Public Libraries News, it's from Prue Bray a Lib Dem Councillor in Wokingham

Wokingham libraries: a victory for common sense – and for the Lib Dems

Wokingham Conservatives have decided NOT to proceed with outsourcing the running of the libraries to the private sector.
They first announced they were going to do it in May 2011. We collected signatures for a massive Lib Dem petition against it, which led to a debate in November 2011. And now finally they have accepted that it wasn’t the right thing to do either financially or for the service. Which was what we said at the start……
David Lee, Conservative Leader of the Council, described the Lib Dem campaign to save the libraries as “laughable” in the Reading Chronicle last year:
http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2011/06/19/52628-library-outrage-sparks-petition/
I bet he’s not laughing now.

also this from Matthew Dent;

http://matthewsdent.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/wokingham-libraries-not-to-be-sold-off/

and this which seems to confirm the news

http://savewokinghamslibraries.org/

"The future of library services in the Wokingham Borough was discussed last night (October 25)
by Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive.

Executive member for internal services Cllr Pauline Jorgensen said: “The council has been
working with interested parties in a competitive dialogue process to see if there are ways that
we can work with the private sector to improve the library service we offer. The result is that we
haven’t been convinced there will be enough benefits for our library users to continue with the
process. We also don’t want to take the risk the key objectives would not be achieved for our
users."

 

Conservatives Delay Decision On Library Privatisation - Earley Lib Dems - 05/07/12

Thanks to http://savewokinghamslibraries.org/ for alerting me to the fact that the Wokingham Conservatives have now delayed the decision over the privatisation of the Library service untill November 2012!

http://www.earleylibdems.org/2012/07/conservatives-delay-decision-on-library.html

"Now it appears that although the Conservatives have decided to privatise our library service, they can't quite make up their minds how they're going to do it. They were supposed to announce who they were awarding the Library Contract to in March but delayed the decision until June, now we learn - thanks to a question put to Wokingham's Executive Committee by Lib Dem Cllr Prue Bray - that the decision has been delayed once again until November.

Could it be that the Conservatives are having second thoughts? Unlikely, but until they get around to figuring out what they want to do with the library service there is always hope."

Wokingham's proposals to privatise it's libraries moves a step closer!

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1065857
"Wokingham Borough Council has voted to move to the tendering stage of the process.
It hopes to save £170,000 by outsourcing the management of 10 public libraries across the borough."
£170,000 is a tiny saving in the overall scheme of the council's budget, so the decision to privatise is ideological not economical!


http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2109552_councils_vow_to_keep_libraries_open_despite_tender#comments
"Councillor UllaKarin Clark, executive member for internal services, pointed out at a meeting of the executive on Thursday, February 23, that when the bids are considered in June the council will be able to pull out of the process if it wants to"
It's not only the council who can choose to pull out, whoever the contract is awarded too may also pull out if the deal is not as profitable as they envisaged, there maybe a penalty for doing so but a private firm won't run a service at a loss for too long! This could leave the service and the community high and dry?

Wokingham private library firms shortlisted - BBC - 28/2/12

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-17193542

"A shortlist of four companies has been drawn up which could potentially run 11 libraries across Wokingham.
The Conservative-led council currently pays out about £2.1m a year to run its library service but said it believed it could pay firms less to take them on.
However, a report to councillors said there could be an "increase in staff turnover" and "loss of influence" over the service."
Any private company taking over the running off the libraries would want to make its stamp on the service, this could mean bringing in its own management team and could mean firing and then re-hiring the existent library staff, minus trouble makers!, on detrimental terms and conditions? It could also mean handing over not only the day to day running but also, within the period of the contract, the long term planning of the service to the company? It's hard to say what would happen as this, along with Hounslow, would be the only privatised library service in the UK! The only real lessons can be taken from the US, with LSSI as the main player, but the US system is so different it's very hard to make comparisons! Let's hope it never happens!

Wokingham libraries move closer to privatisation - The Reading Chronicle - 24/02/12

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2012/02/24/57492-wokingham-libraries-move-closer-to-privatisation/

"Wokingham Borough Council voted in favour yesterday of moving to the tendering stage of the process after more than 20 companies submitted bids in June last year to take control.
Four shortlisted companies have already presented ideas on how they would improve the library service if they were successful in their bid for the five-year contract."

Council defends bid to privatise library services - getwokingham - 23/02/12

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2108854_council_defends_bid_to_privatise_library_services

"Wokingham Borough Council is to approve high-level specifications for interested companies to fulfil in order to run the borough’s library service.
The council’s executive committee will meet today to discuss the specifications, which are being kept secret due to EU procurement law, and the top three primary objectives of the tender process."

So Cllr UllaKarin Clark and her crew press ahead with their privatisation proposals totally ignoring public protests and concerns, long live local democracy!

(Wokingham) Libraries in spotlight - Bracknell News - 22/02/12

http://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/wokingham/articles/2012/02/22/57390-libraries-in-spotlight/

"THE future of libraries in the Wokingham borough will be in the spotlight again tomorrow (Thursday) when councillors are expected to move one step closer to privatising the service.

Wokingham Borough Council's executive committee is due to approve plans to move to the tendering stage of the process after more than 20 companies submitted bids in June last year to take control. "

Campaigners win pledge to review library ‘privatisation’ - Henley Standard 5/12/11

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=1021164

"THE “privatisation” of Wargrave library is set to be reviewed.
It was agreed that a review would be held after the competitive dialogue process has taken place to take account of public feeling."

Yet more backtracking by Wokingham Council?

Save the UK's libraries? It's beyond me, admits US guru - Independent - 28/11/11

"An American library firm that entered the UK market to great fanfare earlier this year has had to beat a retreat, admitting that the attempt has been tougher than expected.

A slug of judicial reviews and lack of tenders by local authorities, which are nervous of outsourcing their library services to independent providers, were among the reasons cited."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/save-the-uks-libraries-its-beyond-me-admits-us-guru-6268882.html

Well it looks as if LSSI have pulled the plug on their UK aspirations, they have obviously underestimated the level of protest and disinterest here. Their last hopes were pinned on Wokingham, now backtracking, and Croydon/Wandsworth, who don't seem to have any clear plans anymore, in fact they are in a complete pickle! I don't think we should drop our guard completely, they still intend to "continue forging relationships with local authorities" and we still have trusts and volunteers to contend with!
Well done to everyone who campaigned against them, we all deserve a pat on the back.

I'll need to find something new to blog about!

Council to review libraries decision - Getwokingham - 25/11/11

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2103986_council_to_review_libraries_decision

"History was made in the Wokingham council chamber last week when the first debate ever to be triggered by a public petition took place, prompting a review of a decision on the future of the borough’s libraries.
Following debate, Wokingham Borough Council approved a recommendation to review its decision to outsource control of the borough’s libraries after a competitive tender process, to take account of public feeling."

Libraries future to be debated - Getwokingham - 17/11/11

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2103536_libraries_future_to_be_debated

If Councillor UllaKarin Clark and her co-horts had conducted a proper consultation process and had facilitated an open and honest debate there wouldn't have been any need for campaigners/users to petition them, but this seems to be the pattern up and down the country, councils flouting guidleines and ignoring the public!

Petition forces debate on library sell off - Getwokingham 14/11/11

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2103304_petition_forces_debate_on_library_sell_off
Well it looks as if Councillor UllaKarin Clark and her buddies on Wokingham Council have underestimated the public protest against their proposals to privatise/outsource the library service, she also seems to be back tracking just a little, I wonder why?

Save Wokingham Libraries Blog

http://savewokinghamslibraries.org/

Campaigning against Wokingham Council's plan to privatise the local library service.

'Libraries sell off plan to be reviewed' - Getwokingham 4/10/11

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2100832_libraries_sell_off_plan_to_be_reviewed

"Controversial plans to put the management of the borough’s libraries out to tender will be reviewed in a full council debate after a petition with 2,374 signatures opposing the decision was handed to the council."

"The Save Our Libraries petition is calling on the council to change its decision because campaigners say the only way a private company will make profit will be to close libraries and increase charges for residents."

Wokingham Update

http://save-our-libraries.blogspot.com/ - new campaign group set up plus online petition
http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2095988_private_libraries_will_continue_all_statutory_services -
more hollow promises from Wokingham Council
http://pruebray.mycouncillor.org.uk/2011/07/01/saving-the-libraries/ - LibDem councillors views on the matter

Libraries are safe, says council boss

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2095713_libraries_are_safe_says_council_boss - a very odd interpretation of safe?

The plot thickens in Wokingham!

http://matthewsdent.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/a-response-to-john-halsall/

Bookworms in Wokingham fight to keep libraries public

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2095026_bookworms_fight_to_keep_libraries_public

"Council officers are looking for a partner to take over control of the borough’s 10 libraries in a bid to save £170,000 a year.
But the campaigners say the only way a private company will be able to make a profit will be to close libraries and increase charges for residents."

Croydon and Wokingham Libraries to be run by LSSI?

"LSSI, which runs 16 public library systems in five US states, is currently wooing authorities with an attractive business model that promises increased community activity and invites Starbucks to set up inside branches. LSSI has spoken to “dozens of local authorities” over the past three years and held meetings with five councils last week, with Croydon becoming the latest borough to consider a deal. LSSI’s first contract is expected to start next May in Wokingham."
Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/253640/As-US-firm-seeks-to-run-beloved-institutions-are-we-at-risk-of-barbarism-As-US-firm-seeks-to-run-beloved-institutions-are-we-at-risk-of-barbarism-#ixzz1PkUgBys6

Row rages on in Wokingham over library outsourcing

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2094176_council_consulted_noone_claim_as_libraries_row_rages_on_
"Under-fire council bosses have once again been forced to defend a decision to put the management of the borough’s libraries out to tender after fierce criticism from opposition politicians.
Councillor Prue Bray, leader of Wokingham Liberal Democrats, says she is “appalled” by a decision to allow a competitive dialogue process to go ahead. She believes this could result in a private company taking control of the area’s libraries from May 2012."