OPPOSITION councillors will attempt to overturn a decision to place York’s libraries under the control of a social enterprise at a meeting tomorrow night.
The formation of a “community benefit society” called the Explore Libraries and Archives Mutual was approved by City of York Council last month as it looks to cut library costs by £450,000 over three years.
The Labour-run authority has said it will ensure libraries stay open and give staff and residents more involvement in their operation, as well as allowing scope for improvements to the service, but the council’s Liberal Democrat group has called in the decision for further scrutiny.
A meeting tomorrow night will rule whether it should be reconsidered.
Heworth Without councillor Nigel Ayre said: “Labour have not explored other options to determine whether a social enterprise is the best choice - they have started with the idea to outsource libraries and tried to make the facts fit the argument.”
He said there had been a lack of consultation on the changes and a business case for the social enterprise had not been revealed “despite repeated requests”, while the UNISON union was opposed to the move.
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