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May 26, 2006
Devon libraries- who's in charge?
The library service in Devon fails to meet the national standard for opening hours; they fail to meet the national standard for library visits; book lending in the past 5 years has fallen by 20%; library visits have fallen by 17%. Book stocks have fallen and fallen
The management of the service are so inefficient in their operation that they pay a cost of 40% more than the UK average for each book they buy.
So faced with a budget problem do the council interrogate the management and demand improvement? No: they keep the management and close the libraries. You wouldn't believe it if this was the National Health Service.
Posted by Tim Coates at May 26, 2006 8:33 AM
Comments
As every local government employee knows, the main business of senior managers like Lynn Osborne is to protect elected members from responsibility for bad decision making, from public accountability and from lots of other unpleasant things.
Her inability to produce figures which would be on any competent manager's desk is not a reflection on her abilities, but on the role she has to play.
Do not look to councillors for awkward questions, let alone useful answers, on such matters.
The only way to bring local politicians to account is by resourceful and articulate campaigns at national level, such as yours.
Best wishes
George
Posted by: George Harding at June 4, 2006 12:28 PM