The public library at Coylton has been saved from closure.

South Ayrshire Council has reversed a decision that it took earlier this year to close the  premises as part of its budget proposals.

Following a full meeting of the Council at which the library was given a reprieve, the Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Gibson T. Macdonald said: “I am delighted that the Council has collectively demonstrated common sense and rectified an error in decision-making. The original inclusion of Coylton Library in the savings proposals was based on inadequate research.”

After the meeting, Councillor Macdonald explained how the Council’s Administration had spent time re-assessing the appropriateness of including the library closure in the Council’s budget decision, after it had become clear that the alternative provision suggested in the Council’s Budget option report could not be achieved and did not satisfy the need that exists.

He said: “We reconsidered the question of library provision in Coylton.  We took on board the quite legitimate arguments and opinions that had been provided by the local community, and we were most keen to reverse the decision, which was taken in March for purely financial reasons, to close Coylton Library.
 
“When the present Administration took control of the Council in December we immediately delayed the date for declaring the Council Tax until the last possible minute to try and have the time to decide on the major changes required in the £200 MILLION  Budget.  

“This was a huge task and unwisely we adhered to the practice adopted for nine years by the previous Administration which was to make Service Budget decisions at the very end of the process.   In making our budget decision this year we recognised the difficulties inherent in that process and in my budget speech I indicated that we would embark upon preparing for the 2007/8 budget in April 2006.  That process in now in hand and a whole new form of decision making has been formulated.”

Councillor Macdonald explained: “There is no doubt that when the options offered by the department were accepted there had been inadequate research into an alternative provision of what was required at Coylton.   It emerged that the proposed alternative can’t be done in a way that suits the needs of the community.”

And he pointed out: “The Chief Executive has been requested to establish a system which will, from now on, explore the implications of recommended changes to ensure that full information is available for consideration when options are being presented and before decisions are made.”

In order to discuss the library, and the closure decision that exists, the Council had firstly to take a decision to suspend its Standing Orders.  The original closure decision was taken in March, and the Council could not reconsider a decision taken within the previous six months, without the support of two thirds of the Councillors voting for the Suspension of Standing Orders at Monday’s meeting.

A deputation representing Coylton Community Council attended a full meeting of the Council on June 8th, and made a verbal plea in support of a letter already lodged calling for the library to remain open, however a vote by the Councillors resulted in Standing Orders not being suspended, and accordingly the Council could not reconsider the matter.

Councillor Macdonald explained: “At the last Council meeting, we heard from a delegation from the Community Council who made an excellent case which reinforced the information that had already been gathered and presented by Councillor Tony Lewis, the local member for Coylton and Minishant.  We continued to seek an appropriate improved affordable alternative.    We were impressed with the logical presentation by the deputation but it was necessary to complete our research before coming to a decision.  It was for this reason that we decided not to support the suspension of standing orders at that time.  

“We requested a special Council meeting with the intention of remedying the unacceptable loss of service if the original decision to close the library was allowed to stand.   We required the support of two thirds of the Councillors present to suspend Standing Orders, and I am pleased to say it was unanimously supported.”

Councillor Macdonald also explained: “The Council’s Minority Group had exactly the same proposal to close the library in their alternative budget, and they had already indicated a change of heart, and they supported the motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow us to reverse the closure decision.”

The Council decided that the Coylton library service should be maintained at the present level, with funding from the Education, Culture and Lifelong Learning budget.

June 2006