Demonstrators chanted “save our library” at Dovecot MAC
Demonstrators outside Dovecot Multi Activity Centre
Community libraries are “seriously in jeopardy” if vital funding can’t be restarted as officials say they’re willing to get round the table with Liverpool Council over contested debts. As of last month, the city council stopped providing funds for library services in Dovecot and Breck Road operated by Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT).
According to the local authority, this is due to “substantial” debts owed by the trust. As a result, Liverpool Council said it would not sustain existing grants, in the region of £50,000.
Since 2015, both libraries have been managed on behalf of the council by the charity. As a demonstration was held outside Dovecot Multi Activity Centre (MAC) where one of the libraries is based, Danielle Forman, AVCT deputy chief executive, said officials wanted to meet with Liverpool Council to find a way forward but warned without support, the future of the sites was up in the air.
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of the city council, told the Town Hall last week how he wanted to resolve the debt issue and there was a way forward if charity representatives came back to the table to negotiate. Dozens gathered outside the MAC this morning to make their voices heard in support of the libraries.
Users chanted “save our library” amid blustery conditions on Tuesday morning as Ian Byrne, Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby and city councillors joined the demonstrators outside the library. A sign inside the library read: “Due to the actions of Liverpool Council, the library may be forced to close within the coming weeks.”
Speaking to the ECHO, Mr Byrne said: “We’re really fearful that potentially this community library, a much loved resource could go. Once you lose a resource, you don’t get it back and such a fundamental part of why this community loves this place is because of the library.
Inside Dovecot MAC
“It’s a huge part of it so we just can’t allow it and when it came on my radar, when people got in touch I just said sit down and come to an agreement.
“It’s something which I can’t countenance and I’ve said this to Liam Robinson, I’ve said this to the councillors. My job as Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Derby is to try and bring resources in.”
Ms Forman said AVCT was open to working to resolve the matter but stressed the importance of restoring the funding in the mean time. She said: “It’s just such a crucial resource for the community when Alt Valley stepped in to make sure it was kept open.
“It’s just about being that central hub for people to come to and it’s a physical space in the community. It’s that personal rapport with community members that you’ve got a safe space where you can come and be signposted to other services, and that’s what Alt Valley is all about, really.
“We’re trying to get an opportunity to sit down with the relevant people. We’ve had a meeting with the finance improvement director and an offer for us to sit down with the director to sort out every payment plan but we feel it’s necessary for us to meet with the people responsible for the library service in terms of the actual funding.
“There’s a wider issue that we need to resolve, and we need to talk and get around the table and talk about so we’re absolutely keen to do that. We said that time and time again, available anytime, anywhere to meet.
“That’s what we’d like to happen next.” Ms Forman said a formal lease was never signed for the library at Dovecot, while another landlord exists at Breck Road with which a lease is agreed.
She added: “We’ve been very clear over the years to say that the £55,000 we receive isn’t sufficient for us to make a contribution. By the time you take into account the utilities and the maintenance of the building where the building is located, it can’t operate with one member of staff.
“We’ve done our best, and we’ve supplemented that income but now that it stopped, it’s in jeopardy. We’re doing our best to keep going.
“The charity is absolutely committed to trying to find a way forward so it’s we’re finding a way to maintain it at the moment but obviously it’s seriously in jeopardy if we can’t get the funding back in place.” Speaking previously, Cllr Ruth Bennett, Liverpool Council deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, resources and transformation, said: “We have been pursuing substantial debts owed by AVCT for many years.
“Regrettably, despite extensive efforts and multiple extensions to resolve issues, AVCT have not taken up our offer to come up with an affordable repayment plan. The council cannot continue to provide grant funding to organisations that owe significant sums of money.
“We again urge AVCT to come and meet with council officers and discuss repayment. Should AVCT choose to close their facilities, we will promote alternative ways to access library services.”