Murdo Fraser MSP has said that the SNP-run Perth and Kinross Council must take responsibility for the plan to close local libraries in the region.
However, the Scottish Conservative politician added that the overall issue lies “at the door” of the Scottish Government in terms of providing adequate funding to local authorities to prevent local libraries from closing.
Speaking during a recent Members’ Business debate on Save Local Libraries, brought to the Scottish Parliament by Mark Ruskell MSP, Mr Fraser cited the discovery that the spiralling cost of building HMP Glasgow – the replacement for Barlinnie – has now increased tenfold to £1 billion.
Mr Fraser told the Chamber at Holyrood: “I don’t think the Council in Perth and Kinross can hide behind a group like Culture Perth and Kinross. Culture Perth and Kinross is an arms-length organisation, wholly-funded by Perth and Kinross Council. Councillors have to take responsibility and ensure that the funding is adequate to make sure libraries are not closing. I hope the SNP-led administration in Perth and Kinross will listen to the campaigners and take the right decisions to ensure that funding is there.
“But fundamentally, it comes back to the door of the Scottish Government. They have to step up and make sure councils don’t lose the vital local resources that we all agree must remain.
“This issue comes down to the Budget settlement given to local councils by the Scottish Government. We are in a situation where the Westminster Block grant is at record levels, and yet councils across Scotland are having to make very difficult decisions like cutting services on the likes of local libraries, and also, at the same time, talking about increasing Council Tax at unprecedented levels – 10% or more.
“So, clearly something is not right and this goes back to the door of the SNP Government. I read today that the cost of the new Barlinnie replacement prison in Glasgow has now gone up to £1 billion – it has increased tenfold over the original estimate. Perhaps if the Scottish Government looked a little more carefully at where it is spending its money, they would find some extra for local councils to support our libraries.”
Mr Fraser continued: “Mark Ruskell, Liz Smith and I all supported the rally to save local libraries a few weeks ago, when more than 300 people braved sub-zero temperatures in Perth in support of libraries. I can’t think of another issue that has led to so much correspondence being sent to me from constituents – a huge volume.
“Libraries are not just there as sources of learning; they are also there for supporting communities and hosting a variety of different events. And also, let’s not forget at a time when many people are suffering from isolation, loneliness and increasing costs of fuel, they are warm spaces where older people in particular can go, when they otherwise would be isolated, and they can gather, meet and have human company, and that should not be underestimated.”
