Live or work in Hampshire?

[haveuheard]

HCC are in the middle of yet another round of massive budget cuts, current target is the library service. They are running a consultation until 18th March, please surprise them by filling in the form! There usually aren't many responses to public consultations and HCC will argue lack of response = agreement with their plans. They want to close the 4 community run libraries (which offer excellent value for money as they are volunteer run!) as well as 10 local council run libraries and then cut hours at the remaining libraries by 15%.

Consultation form here:
hampshirecc.researchfeedback.net/s.asp?k=157597458905&fbclid=IwAR3vmXPON8Ct8tknXyULH7VTF3JdO_wczDqoWbrnbzn08_xVmrMdwMFgtlY

I used to work in a library and I know how valuable they are. But HCC is flat broke. And the government have just admitted the the "end of austerity" was the big fat lie we all suspected it was. So what can the council do instead?

The consultation is just a front. The decisions have already been made. Sad but true.

My understanding was that HCC has a war chest it won't use so it's not broke. But perhaps it has used it now.

Agree the consultation is a sham. I did respond a couple of weeks ago though.

What can they do instead? Be open to negotiation would be a good start. Closing the community libraries will save them only £49,000 out of the £1.04 million they need to save. In the case of my local library the volunteers and parish council could significantly cut the cost to Hampshire but they aren't interested in talking about it.

It’s always sad when there is talk of libraries closing as I believe that libraries are a lot more than just books, more of a community hub if you like. Looking at the document published by HCC it seems that they are proposing to close the libraries that are underperforming and not used by all in their communities. Although an awful situation, by closing the 10 libraries and the 4 community ones, the 38 left - which is a huge number in my opinion - will be safeguarded for the future. If they didn’t close any, then all libraries will lose opening hours and staff which surely will affect the brilliant service that they provide. Quality over quantity in my opinion. Savings obviously have to be made.

HCC has a war chest, but it self-insures its buildings so it needs a fund for that. I personally think that some of these cuts, like Chineham aren't unreasonable, people have good links to Basingstoke from there and the town centre needs to be prioritised. Kingsclere though will be a huge loss, there aren't good links and so it needs to be preserved imo.

Thank you for the link.
I read the document and responded to the survey.