Refurbishment works set for 10 Birmingham libraries amid safety fears

The future of the city’s libraries have been at the heart of a battle between campaigners and the crisis-hit city council amid unprecedented cuts to services.

A report earlier this year said the Labour authority’s plans for the service would see opening hours for ‘council-led statutory library provision’ drop from 1,049 to 763 hours a week.

Now the council wants to carry out work after acknowledging several libraries were in a “poor state of disrepair”.

“The proposal is to roll out a programme of works to refurbish and upgrade up to ten libraries to bring them up to a reasonable condition and extend the buildings’ life,” a report said.

“This forms phase one of the investment works.

“The work will address the library buildings’ health and safety defects and ensure the council’s statutory responsibilities are met, including the implementation of essential fire prevention works.”

The eight full-time and two part-time library buildings set for refurbishment works are Handsworth, Northfield, Mere Green, Quinton, Small Heath, Acocks Green, Erdington, Kings Heath, Hall Green and Perry Common.

The works also include replacement boilers/heating systems, roof/skylight renewal, upgrading lighting to LED and plaster repairs to ceilings/walls.

On the option of doing nothing, the council report said: “The library property portfolio is in a poor state of disrepair with little capital investment spent on it over the past ten to 15 years.

“Buildings are now failing with water ingress from roofs in need of replacement and broken boilers which cannot be repaired due to their age.

“The backlog of significant works is now impacting on health and safety and unless addressed buildings will have to close.”

Another 17 condition surveys are be carried out on the remaining libraries, excluding the Library of Birmingham, which would form the basis of future funding for a second programme of work.

The council’s wider plans will see community libraries and information services integrated to create a new Connected Communities service.

This will involve ten community hubs being established across the city, which it said would “support residents with localised activities and support on their doorstep”.

“The proposed Connected Communities service will maintain library and advice services in safe spaces open to all,” cabinet member Councillor Saima Suleman has said.

But the council has faced anger over reduced hours as well as the closure of Sutton Coldfield’s town centre library.

“Despite the need to make savings, we aim for the service to provide a comprehensive coverage across the city,” a council spokesperson said earlier this year.

“The libraries continue to play a valuable role in our communities as universal safe spaces promoting access to information, community wellbeing, digital inclusion, education and culture.”

The proposed works will be considered by cabinet members on Tuesday, September 9.