Devon libraries face growing tension as fears mount over staff cuts

Tension is mounting over the future of Devon’s librarians as a decision on potential staff cuts approaches.

Libraries Unlimited, the organisation that oversees 50 libraries across the Devon County Council area, has confirmed it is conducting a staff consultation that could see the number of librarians reduced.

Tensions surfaced at Devon County Council’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday 14 October, with some councillors urging the authority to do more.

However, cabinet members and senior officers stressed that the issue was separate from the staffing decisions being considered by Libraries Unlimited and that the council could not intervene in consultations conducted by third-party organisations.

Before the meeting, Councillor Cheryl Cottle Hunkin (Liberal Democrat, Torrington Rural) provided a written response to a question asking whether the proposed staffing restructure by Libraries Unlimited could be delayed until the council had scrutinised the proposals.

The issue had been raised at a scrutiny meeting the previous week, but it was added to the committee’s work programme.

This meant any assessment of the proposals would likely take place after a decision on librarians had been made.

The latest available annual report from Libraries Unlimited, covering the 2024/25 financial year, shows income of just over £9.4 million and expenditure of nearly £9.7 million.

Around three-quarters of its income during the period came from agreements with Devon County Council and Torbay Council, for which it runs four libraries.

Staffing costs accounted for nearly two-thirds of its expenditure, making them its largest expense.

“It is important to recognise that the proposed staffing changes are the subject of consultation being undertaken by Libraries Unlimited in its role as employer,” Cllr Cottle Hunkin said in her written response.

“Neither cabinet nor the scrutiny committee can direct Libraries Unlimited in relation to its employment processes or decisions.

“Accordingly, I am unable to give the assurance requested that no decision or implementation activity will take place before scrutiny considers the matter.”

Councillor Jess Bailey (Independent, Otter Valley), who had submitted the question, also raised the issue during the cabinet meeting.

She first brought up the topic during a discussion about bluetongue virus, which has ravaged the county, and the council’s response to the outbreak.

“I think you cannot help but draw a distinction between the support that’s being given to farmers [through the resilience and wellbeing fund] and the lack of support that’s being given to libraries,” she said.

“I read last night the proposed changes to libraries are going to save around £140,000-£160,000. I don’t know whether that is true as we haven’t been told anything at Devon County Council about that, and the decision is set to be taken on 19 October and we’ve got nothing about it here, and then by contrast the bluetongue report that has been rushed through and a proposal brought forward.

“It’s not that I don’t support what you’re doing with bluetongue support, of course I do, and of course I support the farmers, but I would like to see the appropriate funding to help our libraries.”

Councillor Julian Brazil (Liberal Democrat, Kingsbridge), the council’s leader, responded robustly, defending the authority’s recent increase in library funding.

He stressed that any savings from staff reductions would be made within Libraries Unlimited, which was conducting the consultation.

“The county council have given an extra £2 million to libraries, no libraries are closing and no hours are being reduced in the service, so it is an incredible misrepresentation that somehow this council is now reneging on its deal with libraries when it absolutely is not,” he said.

“It is an operational issue in Libraries Unlimited. They are organising themselves and making themselves resilient for the 21st Century and into the future.

“They are reorganising how they run their library service but our funding has stayed exactly as it was, there is nothing being saved from our budget whatsoever.”

The exchange continued, with Cllr Bailey stressing that the county council had a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive library service.

She argued that this made it reasonable for the authority to assess the potential impact of the proposed staffing changes.

Cllr Brazil responded that Libraries Unlimited carried out its work professionally and that the council monitored its performance.

“If they fall below the statutory duty that we insist upon, then absolutely we will step in,” he added.

“But it is not the case at the moment and it is not for us to micromanage what Libraries Unlimited do.”

Libraries Unlimited has previously said it cannot comment on the details of the consultation while it remains ongoing.