Swinney seeks answers on library closure concenrs
ONE of Scotland's most powerful politicians is to write to Angus Council on behalf of Edzell residents campaigning to have their village library reopened.
The Edzell Library Action Group met with North Tayside MSP John Swinney last week to ask for help in getting the Inglis Memorial Hall
library reopened.
The facility was closed in April as part of budget cuts by Angus Council, but ELAG think that in doing so, the local authority was not fulfilling its duties as the trustee of the Inglis Hall.
They are also concerned that the equality impact assessment carried out by the council was not complete or thorough, with one assessment used to assess the impact of the closure of four rural libraries around the county.
The lack of consultation with the community is another point of contention.
A spokesperson for ELAG said: "Representatives from ELAG met with John
Swinney when he came to Edzell for his constituency surgery.The three representatives spent over quarter of an hour in his mobile van
discussing the closure of Edzell Library.
"Mr Swinney shall be contacting the council and questioning them regarding the Trust/Trustee issues, the lack of consultation and the equality impact assessment.
"We are very grateful for his assistance."
Mr Swinney has now called for Angus Council to be fully transparent with how the decision to close the library was reached and has called on the authority to answer all of ELAG's questions.
He said: "The Edzell Library Action Group came to see me at my surgery and have asked me to take up a number of specific questions with Angus Council about the process that was undertaken that led to the closure of Edzell's library.
"They also raised an issue about how the trustees are supposed to function, saying they believe the trustee's functions have not been properly executed by the council with regard to their own responsibilities as members of Angus Council.
"I think the council needs to answer their questions properly. I think it is really important that every local authority is transparent in decisions that have been arrived at.
"That's one thing I would encourage Angus Council to do."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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