Sir – Gordon Balme, of Oxford Civic Society, has copied his letter to me concerning Oxfordshire’s libraries and I am happy to give him the assurance he seeks.
The county council will be asked to set a budget on February 15 which will include funding cuts to the library service which are broadly proportionate to many other service areas and will make £2m savings a year by 2014/15. Assuming this budget is approved, there will be a substantial period of consultation for a number of service areas, of which libraries will be one.
The library consultation will be supported by a substantial amount of financial, property, operational and geographical data for each of our 43 libraries.
During this period of consultation, libraries will continue to receive their funding and no actions will be taken that will prejudice their future. I hope this provides reassurance about the decision process.
Keith R Mitchell, Leader, Oxfordshire County Council
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