Outside Oulton Broad Library with Peter Aldous MP and Cllr Mark Bee

Today Peter Aldous MP for Waveney held his regular constituency surgery at Oulton Broad Library in Lowestoft. As usual lots of constituents came along but also a number of campaigners from Lowestoft Coalition Against the Cuts. They have been waiting to speak to Mr Aldous after he cancelled a planned public meeting about the cuts but Aldous said that "the time for public debate is now over". Reneging on commitments seems to be something of a habit for Peter Aldous as he had also promised to present  a scrapbook to Suffolk County Council made by people attending the library events at Bungay but apparently "no longer feels able to".

Peter Aldous looked very unsure as he was asked to sign the petition to Save Oulton Broad Library and other libraries in Suffolk, eventually refusing but saying he was "supportive" and that he had spoken to Suffolk County Council who he described as being in "a little bit of a state of flux". After an interesting discussion with several members of the public Cllr Mark Bee, leader of Waverney District Council felt the need to come to Peter's rescue - literally - as he moved through the crowd to guide Peter Aldous to freedom in the library. Mark Bee also refused to sign the petition but promised to work "from the inside" to save libraries. I wonder if this now a part of his campaign to be elected Leader of Suffolk County Council!?

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Stradbroke Parish Council's response to Suffolk Library Consultation

Stradbroke Parish Council unanimously agreed their response to Suffolk County Council's library consultation at the last meeting.

The response makes it clear that "Stradbroke Parish Council would prefer that Suffolk County Council remained as the direct provider of library services across Suffolk" and then goes on to offer several criticisms of the consultation process.


The Parish Council suggest the library would be best run in the existing Courthouse building after considering Stradbroke Business and Enterprise College and the Community Centre as alternative sites.

A plan for the Parish Council to run the library is put forward with the following as context:

"However, given the resolute refusal to date of SCC to consider [continuing to run libraries], we are putting forward suggestions of how Stradbroke Library may remain open and serving the residents of Stradbroke and the surrounding villages and hamlets.

The suggested plan is that Suffolk County Council transfer the Courthouse Building to the Parish Council and devolve revenue funding to the Parish Council:

Our suggestion is that the whole of the 2010 funding level of £50,450 less 30% is devolved to the PC, and we will fund all the required costs associated with the library. We would need to buy in certain services from either SCC or another provider e.g. stock provision, ICT etc...The model for this arrangement would be the one used for schools’ governance. There is sufficient expertise within SCC to manage this arrangement, and we have expertise and experience of this approach within the village.

If you wish to submit your own personal response to the Suffolk County Council consultation you can do so until the end of April at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/librariesconsultation2011

NOTE: You only need answer Q7 if you just want to comment about the future of library services, Suffolk County Council have accepted not all the questions may be relevant to individuals

You can read the full response below:
StradbrokeLibraryConsultationResponse

"A Strong Voice for Stradbroke and Laxfield" My Election Leaflet Published

If you live in Stradbroke, Laxfield or Wilby you should get a copy of my election leaflet over the next week but you can also read and download a copy below.

You can also read more detailed information About Me and about my District Council Campaign (these links are on the top of my blog).

JamesHargraveElection2011No1