Documents revealed that Mayfair Library was part of a cost-saving review. Photo: © PAUL FARMER (cc-by-sa/2.0)

A COUNCIL leisure chief launched a vein-popping tirade against opposition councillors this week over what he described as “manu­factured” claims that libraries were under threat of closure.

Cllr Tim Barnes wildly shouted “shame on you” repeatedly at Labour leader Adam Hug at the full council meeting on Wednesday while de­manding he apologise to library users and staff.

He said documents had been leaked to the Extra that were “not meant for public consumption” in a way designed to “stimulate fear” in the run-up to the May council elections, insisting: “I am not posturing.”

Labour had revealed Westminster officials had, behind closed doors, considered a cost-saving review of library buildings; in particular at Westminster Archives, Charing Cross, Westminster Reference Library and Mayfair Library.

The documents said that “next steps” for making efficiencies at the council could be “ending provision at Mayfair Library” bec-ause the lease was due to expire in October this year.

A temporary lease extension has since been agreed but Labour believes this is so West­minster Conservatives can dodge a fractious debate ahead of the council election and that “residents have a right to know before they vote rather than afterwards”.

But Cllr Barnes said: “I am proud to be the cabinet member for young people and learning. But I am less proud of the cynical and manufactured claim that any of our libraries will be closing.

“The information they have obtained was not intended for public consumption. It was a draft document prepared not by the library service, but by corporate property, as part of an appropriate and vigilant review of our property assets.”

When asked why the Mayfair Library lease wasn’t being extended for longer, he said: “The person who has it is prepared to offer a standard term commercial short hold tenancy agreement. That is what we are going to do. Anything said to the contrary is cynical, manipulative, it’s an election stunt designed to collect email addresses and stimulate fear and bring about a move to the ballot box on things that are not true.”

He urged Cllr Hug: “Apologise to each and every member of the Mayfair Library staff who walked into the library, saw copies of the Westminster Extra, and thought their jobs were at risk when they are not. Shame on you, shame, shame on you! I am not posturing.”

Cllr Hug said he had been asking “for information about the future of the library service for several years” without any meaningful response, adding that the documents clearly showed the council had “planned against various library sites” as part of a review of public spaces.

He said: “This detailed document sets out in painstaking detail the council’s internal analysis of viability and suitability of its current libraries.

“It is the view of the council officers that it is not cost effective to continue with both Westminster Reference Library and Charing Cross Library. The savings would provisionally be delivered in the 22/23 financial year. They make an important case for digitisation of the archives that we support. The council has no plan to replace St James’s Library.”

On Mayfair Library, he said the documents clearly said the council officers had considered “ending of provision” under a heading called “next steps”.

“The lease is up for renewal but only a short-term decision has been made to renew. While any lease is welcome, we have to ensure there is no short-term fix. We will continue to push until a long-term lease is signed. We will keep pushing for answers.”