COUNCILLORS were accused of being “morally bankrupt” as they voted for cuts to Barnet’s library service.

The plans, which will see libraries remain open – but scaled back, with 46 per cent of staff sacked and four run by volunteers – were passed after a heated debate in Hendon Town Hall this evening (October 20).

Opening hours will be increased through the use of technology and unstaffed hours – although staffed hours will be sharply cut, which campaigners fear will exclude children from using them for most of the time.

Barnet Council hopes the changes will eventually save more than £2million a year, although they will initially cost more than £6million to implement.

The report will now go out for further consultation and will come back early next year.

Campaigners gathered before the meeting, accompanied by a brass band, and called for the libraries to be saved.

John Burgess, branch secretary of Barnet Unison, said members were “disgusted” at volunteers replacing professional librarians.

He added: “There has been a simmering, growing anger and resentment at the way they are being treated.”

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Addressing the council chamber, Conservative councillor Reuben Thompstone, chairman of the libraries committee, said there were “no easy options”.

He pointed out the borough’s libraries will remain open, whereas neighbouring Labour councils had closed some of theirs.

Cllr Thompstone also said Friern Barnet and Hampstead Garden Suburb community libraries showed “volunteers do actually run good libraries.”

He said: “We should remember the committee agreed unanimously £14.5million worth of savings.

“There are no easy options. But we do have here a very good report. What is being proposed is keeping all Barnet’s libraries open.

“We propose to use the enthusiasm of volunteers. We are also going to make sure the facilities in the libraries will work for us.”

Labour councillor Anne Hutton, the party’s library spokesman, said the council was “effectively putting Capita in charge of the library buildings”.

She said: “The main problem all along has been a lack of a vision. The report not only lacks vision but also a coherent business plan. It’s based on assumption.

“The Tories hope those run almost entirely by community groups will wither on the vine and die a slow death, preferably after the next council elections.

“The success of the current service is down to the staff, half of who face the sack and the future without them looks dire. I know no other local authority even attempting to take this amount of money out of the library service. I reject this plan for our libraries as a wasted opportunity.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Cohen accused the Conservatives of “trying to close our libraries” for the past 30 years.

He urged the council to “start again, think again, and go back to the drawing board.”

Protesters in the public gallery accused councillors of being “morally bankrupt” as the report was passed by 32 – 28.

The vote was split along party lines, with the Conservatives voting for it and Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors against. Three Labour councillors were absent.