A row has broken out between the city council and a community trust
Breck Road Library
A war of words has broken out over the future of two Liverpool libraries as a row emerges over unpaid money between the city council and a community trust. Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT) has said it may have to close two sites it operates if it does not receive grant funding from Liverpool Council.
According to AVCT, the city council has said it will not provide cash that supports the operation of Breck Road and Dovecot community libraries if the £80,000 disputed contribution to the lease at the Anfield site is not paid by Monday June 30. They described this as a “hammer blow.”
However, the local authority said it had been pursuing “substantial debt across multiple services” owed by AVCT for a number of years. As a result, it will not sustain existing grants - thought to be more than £50,000 - unless debts are repaid.
In a statement, AVCT said the decision to withhold grant funding was “draconian” against a charity that has “worked in partnership with them to protect essential services for over a decade.” It added: “When austerity impacted on local authority finances the council approached AVCT to request that the organisation take over managing several sites including libraries, sports and community centres.
“These were under threat of closure so eventually as part of this agreement the charity took over Breck Road and Dovecot libraries as a community service on behalf of the council.” The charity said it could not afford to keep open the libraries without the grant funding and they would be forced to close.
The statement added: “The council’s demand for several years lease contribution is just not possible. Our aim has always been to work in partnership with the council to ensure that these two libraries remain open and avoid losing a key service to some of the most disadvantaged communities most in need of qualitative, vibrant provision.”
Alma Mason, chair of the board of trustees at Alt Valley Community Trust said: “I cannot believe that the Council is prepared to oversee the closure of such crucial community services. AVCT is not a wealthy charity and survives with just a small annual surplus.
“Our aim has always been to keep services going for the benefit of communities that most need them. This is why we responded positively when the council approached us to request that we manage several services on their behalf to maintain essential provision.
“Having saved Breck Road and Dovecot libraries from closure and transforming them into engaging community hubs, the council’s actions feel nothing other than punitive. The survival of these two libraries is imperative yet the council’s demands are leaving us with no other option.”
Debbie Stokes is a library volunteer with Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT)
Debbie Stokes is a library volunteer with Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT)
Cllr Ruth Bennett, deputy council leader and cabinet member for finance, resources and transformation, said: “The council has been pursuing substantial debt across multiple services owed by Alt Valley Community Trust for many years. Liverpool’s residents who pay their council tax expect everyone who owes money to the council to pay what is owed.
“We regret that AVCT are considering the closure of their facilities, and encourage them to work with the council to agree payment terms and to provide evidence of any disputed figures. In the event that AVCT’s services are disrupted, we will signpost people to alternative ways of accessing library provision.”
The council’s position was criticised by the MP for West Derby, Ian Byrne, who described the centre as providing “vital and well-used services for the most vulnerable". He said: “What the council is doing is threatening the closure of services that are vital to my constituents.
“Our communities have suffered enough after 14 years of austerity and they should not suffer any more cuts instigated by a Labour Council to the few Services we have still standing.”
Mr Byrne added: “If it wasn’t for AVCT stepping in in the first place, the libraries, sports centres and other community services would have closed. I am proud to have partnered with the organisation to bring the Centre for Social Justice to Dovecot MAC to serve my constituents in West Derby.
“Now, it feels like the charity is being punished for keeping these essential services open.”
Elaine Atkins is one of the users at Breck Road library. She said: “This place is a godsend to a lot of people and it is always busy when I go in there.
“I see lots of mums and kids looking at the books and having sing songs which is really nice to see and hear. The staff are exemplary, efficient, so helpful and friendly and keep this library to such a high standard compared to others, it’s amazing.
“Many, many people will be so lost if this happy, helpful and handy place was to close. There’s nothing much in the area as it is.”