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October 5, 2007
MLA and its 'board'
There are some harsh critics of the MLA among correspondents to this blog.
They might be interested in this extract from an article in the Bookseller on future Government spending on 'arts' related matters
"The library sector also stands to suffer, and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is preparing for the worst. New c.e.o. Roy Clare said: "I'm not averse to challenging government about funding [but] if I were the DCMS, I would be deeply sceptical about MLA coming to ask for more money. Has MLA been spending what it gets in the best possible way? Some things we do that we don't need to do." He sounded a note of optimism ahead of the next CSR in three years' time: "MLA's bid in the next CSR round will be materially stronger if the MLA board and I deliver what we want to do."
My question is about the MLA board. Why is there just one elected councillor on the board? Councillors are the people who have responsbility for operating public libraries? Surely it is a body of them who should be guiding and demanding of the MLA? Otherwise who are these other people to decide "what we want to do"? I just don't get it. What accountability do they have?
I am sure they are all cheerful people and some of them have experienced and interesting views but the public looks to local councils to restore a failing service when ministers have delegated the role to them- and if those councils have a need for a body to help them- which I suppose is what the MLA is there for, then it should be for councillors and ministers to define the role on behalf of the people.
How often the failings of the public library service come back to the question "Who's in Charge?"
Without councillors this board has no weight. It is a pile of autumn leaves, easily brushed away.
Posted by Tim Coates at October 5, 2007 10:25 AM