New library opening hours in Nantwich and across Cheshire East will come into effect from December 1.
The changes will be at all sites across the borough except for Alderley Edge library where the new opening hours will go live on Tuesday 5 December.
That means for Nantwich, new opening hours will be Monday 10am-5pm, Tuesday 10am-7pm, Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-5pm, and Saturday 9am-1pm.
The mobile library routes and stops will remain and online resources and services are available digitally via the council’s website.
Changes to library opening hours were agreed as part of savings CEC has identified in its medium-term financial strategy (MTFS) as it faces a £20 million blackhole in its budget.
Cllr Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said: “The council absolutely understands just how much libraries are valued by local communities.
“We have worked hard to reduce the impact on library opening hours as much as possible, while ensuring that we can make essential savings to balance our budget and protect services for those most at risk in our community.
“I am very pleased that as a result of the feedback we received about our proposals, and following ‘top-up’ funding from Crewe and Nantwich town councils for services in their areas, 31 hours per week of library opening time has been reinstated across the borough at sites where usage and demand is greatest.
“Alongside this, and as significant pressures on council finances remain, we have continued to explore opportunities to make the libraries service financially more self-sufficient, such as by bringing in third parties for wider community use benefits.
“I would like to thank Crewe and Nantwich town councils for their support in ‘topping-up’ their local library services.
“The funding they are providing equates to almost 600 hours’ worth of library opening time being maintained each year across these two sites, which is of course positive news for residents and has also helped to limit the impact on our library staff.”
Nantwich Town Council clerk Samantha Roberts, said: “Nantwich’s library is a fantastic community asset and so it is positive news for the town that the funding provided by the town council will support the facility to remain open for an extra half day each week (four hours), meaning our residents have greater opportunity to access all that is on offer.”
In Crewe, the town council is topping-up services by 7.5 hours each week.
A spokesperson for Crewe Town Council, said: “We recognise the importance and value of local library services and that libraries host a whole range of fantastic resources, facilities, and activities, so we are proud to have been able to ‘top-up’ the opening hours in Crewe and support the library to stay open for longer each week.”
For more information about libraries, visit: cheshireeast.gov.uk/libraries
At a time when Cheshire East Council is running up a huge deficit, you would think they would have fully analysed use of Nantwich Library. Measure of foot fall daily weekly monthly. There can be know doubt there will be times when the library is in high public demand. It is essential service. However there can be no doubt that opening times could be reduced to save money. Nantwich Town Council have stepped in to support half a day additional opening. Hence the residents within the boundaries of the Town Council will be called to pay in the next financial year in the precept.
The time has come for Cheshire East Council and Nantwich Town Council to be held to account. Unlike Cheshire East Council any increases in council tax beyond 5% will require a referendum. The Town Council can increase the precept beyond 5% without referendum. They did some years ago raising the precept by 42%.
I am sure sensible savings can be made.
I perceive the officers feel they can spend the earned money of Council Tax Payers at will. They are not accountable.
Is it a wonder that the new charge for the Green Garden Bins will be the highest in the North West and perhaps in the Country.
In the last few years the Town Council have increased their staffing levels to include a deputy town clerk, a town ranger and I am sure there will be increases in other staff. As residents what do we see for these increased costs to the tax payer.
Band e council tax has risen from £75.00 per month in1994 to £267.77 over 10 months . This represents an increase of 357% .
This includes the precepts for the Town Council, Adult Social Care, Fire and Police. Where does it end?