Bridgend Council’s Cabinet is set to discuss a report proposing changes to library opening hours (pdf).
The county’s libraries are currently run by Awen Cultural Trust and this partnership has proven to be successful, with national library standards being met across the board and library visits increasing.
However, a £360,000 cut to cultural services – including libraries – was approved as part of the 2024-25 budget. The full savings include:
- Cutting library opening hours (up to £70,000).
- Ending Books on Wheels service (home delivery of library books), possibly with charges introduced to use the service (£65,000).
- Cuts to library book renewals (£50,000).
- Removing all BCBC subsidies for Bridgend Youth Theatre (£15,000).
- Remodelling the B-Leaf and Wood-B outdoor training programme (unspecified saving).
All of the above is subject to public consultation.
It’s proposed that library opening hours be cut by a total of 60 hours a week, which would look like this:
Identified savings and cuts only total £200,000 as things stand, so council officers acknowledge the £360,000 target will be difficult to achieve.
They warn that the Social Services & Wellbeing Directorate “will have to identify one-off efficiencies in 2024-25” to make up for any shortfalls.
