Cleethorpes councillor accuses NELC administration of treating residents as if they are 'stupid'

                                                                    

Cllr Morland - unhappy with NELC administration's attitude to libraries

A LABOUR councillor has accused North East Lincolnshire Council's Conservative-led administration of treating residents as if they are 'stupid'.

The outburst  came from Cllr Malcolm Morland (Croft Baker) at a public meeting called the discuss the threat to three libraries - those in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Waltham -  which are at high risk of cuts in their funding by North East Lincolnshire Council.

What seemed to prompt the attack was the ongoing libraries consultation exercise which purports to be an impartial and independent survey of  public opinion about the best strategy for the libraries in the months and years ahead.

Cllr Morland - and others who attended the public meeting - think the  exercise is a sham.

This is because some of the questions seem to be skewed in such a way as to prompt responses that will endorse the council's wish to quit both the Grimsby and Cleethorpes libraries and hand over the Waltham building to community volunteers.

Among the consultation questions thought by library campaigners to be  'loaded' are the following: 

Grimsby

A library hub in an empty town centre location could provide space to shape a modern library. This concept could include a library service, public archives, adult skills and learning and further include potential for integrated café, community and exhibition space. 

a) I support exploring this option

b) I have the following concerns around this option

c) I do not have a view on this

Cleethorpes

A library and leisure hub within a reconfigured Cleethorpes Leisure Centre could provide space to shape a modern library offer.  This concept could include dedicated library space with extended opening hours and further include potential for refurbished leisure facilities. 

a) I support exploring this option

b) I have the following concerns around this option

c) I do not have a view on this

Waltham

Would you support the library to:  

a) Become a local community-run library that offers public access to borrowing books and reading materials, alongside other activities and services to develop a more viable service?

b) Remain as the existing library, recognising that the current operation could limit possibilities for other activities and this could lead to challenges around future viability?

c) Neither of the above, I have an alternative suggestion that the council should be considering for the future use of Waltham Library building.

The full libraries consultation document can be viewed at: 

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