Labour councillors have voted to uphold their devastating cuts to library services, despite a cross-party call-in challenging their decision. This means libraries across Birmingham now face potential closures and reduced services, leaving residents without a vital public resource.
The call-in, led by Cllr Deirdre Alden (Con, Edgbaston) and Cllr Tim Huxtable (Con, Hall Green South), was supported by opposition councillors. Sadly, Labour councillors on the neighbourhood overview and scrutiny committee voted against the call-in request, upholding the Administration's decision to cut library services.
As well as the Labour Cabinet voting to close libraries, Labour backbench councillors have voted to cut libraries 8 times over the last two years now:
1. For their budget in March 2024, removing funding from the libraries
2. Against the Conservative Budget amendment to that budget in March 2024 which would have saved all libraries
3. Against a Conservative Group amendment to a cabinet member business report in June 2024 calling for all community libraries to be retained
4. For their budget in March 2025, which confirmed the removal of funding from the libraries
5. Against the Conservative Budget amendment to that budget in March 2025 which would have saved all libraries
6. Against the Liberal Democrat Budget amendment in March 2025 which also reversed planned cuts
7. Against the Green Budget amendment in March 2025 which also reversed planned cuts
8. Against the call-in request in March 2025 to reconsider plans to cut library services today
Cllr Tim Huxtable (Con, Hall Green South), Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, said:
Once again, the Labour Council have voted to substantially reduce opening hours at libraries across our City. Their plans mean that so many community activities that take place in our libraries – the beating heart of our communities – will no longer have a home. It is distressing to see that the Labour Council have not considered the wider impact of their closures on neighbourhoods and local economies such as the impact on local high streets from low footfall, such as the impact on safety and welfare, like reduced hours for warm spaces for the elderly and children.
Cllr Deirdre Alden (Con, Edgbaston) said:
Labour’s decision today is a disgrace. They could have listened to residents and protected our libraries—but instead, they have chosen to gut the service and let communities suffer. Libraries are more than buildings—they are lifelines for education, job seekers, and vulnerable residents. The message from Labour is clear: they would rather hit residents with a double whammy of raising your taxes and taking away your services than fix their mess. Birmingham’s residents and services are not safe in Labour’s hands.
Proposals were initially brought to the Cabinet Committee on the 13th of February to slash library services despite strong public rejection through consultation. The proposals included reducing opening hours by over 30% across Birmingham’s libraries, leaving only 10 open 4 days a week and 13 only open 3 days. No concrete plan was included for those “co-located and partner-led opportunities”, effectively meaning the Cabinet voted to close these 11 libraries leaving them in uncertain limbo as to their future, with council funding and/or assets withdrawn.
Birmingham City Council is cutting funding to libraries across the city as part of massive service cuts in an attempt to deal with its ongoing self-inflicted financial crisis. Birmingham Local Conservatives have campaigned consistently throughout the public consultation to retain all libraries on full-time opening hours. Labour Councillors have, at every opportunity, voted in support of the cuts – including voting against last year's alternative budget from Birmingham Local Conservatives, which would have saved libraries and was approved by the Finance Department and signed off by the Commissioners.
Once again, Labour councillors on the Cabinet voted through proposals to slash the library service despite strong objections from the public and opposition councillors. As such, Birmingham Local Conservative councillors Cllr Deirdre Alden & Cllr Timothy Huxtable are “calling in” this decision.
Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Erdington), Leader of the opposition and Birmingham Local Conservatives, said after the committee meeting,
Labour’s plan to switch from a model which focuses on ‘Library buildings to library services’ strikes me as nothing short of a smoke screen behind which Labour will hack away at libraries across the city, closing ever more of them. Libraries are not just places where vital services are delivered; they are the heart of a community and a crucial part of that place’s identity, providing valuable support to residents. Labour say they are shifting to a focus on the service, yet are reducing the public’s ability to access that service. This seems like a set-up to reduce the number of users and justify further cuts next year. Let me be frank – this is a Labour attack on the future of Libraries, on local identity and on the areas we call home.
Cllr Ewan Mackey (Con, Sutton Roughley), Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Birmingham Local Conservatives, added,
The impact the proposals made today will have across Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield is really worrying – a 32% reduction of service will directly hit those with less access to education, trying to improve their lives and better themselves. It’ll remove reliable access to services which people count on. Removing support for those libraries which will now be ‘partner-led’ could essentially cut those libraries and those service users adrift, putting the assets linked to those libraries at serious risk.
Cllr David Pears (Con, Sutton Trinity) also said,
Cllr Rob Pocock made a point of highlighting in today’s meeting that he has the opportunity to vote on the future of Sutton and its libraries more than any other individual – and at every turn, Red Rob has wielded the axe against Sutton’s libraries and the services delivered within them.
