The decision to close 16 of Fife’s libraries is set to be reviewed in the new year, it has emerged.
Fife councillors appeared to sound the death knell for the branches on December 7 when the executive committee agreed to progress with proposed changes to library services.
Despite that, 11 councillors have now requested that the matter be formally ‘called in’ to Fife’s education, health and social care scrutiny committee on January 5 to be re-examined.
The call-in procedure allows councillors to take certain executive committee decisions back to the scrutiny committee for further debate.
The signatures of five elected members are needed to trigger the process no later than noon on the fifth working day after the initial decision was taken.
That has now happened, meaning campaigners fighting for the libraries to be saved have been given a glimmer of hope even though Fife Council and Fife Cultural Trust are keen to press ahead with the proposals.
Abbeyview, Bowhill, Colinsburgh, Crail, Crossgates, East Wemyss, Falkland, Freuchie, Glenwood, Kinghorn, Lundin Links, Markinch, Pittenweem, Pitteuchar, Thornton and Townhill libraries have all been earmarked for closure.
Stuart Cross, chairman of Fife Cultural Trust, said radical changes to services were needed now, rather than facing “potential cuts and increased uncertainty” in the years to come.
“Given that we are responsible solely for the delivery of cultural services, we are limited in the actions we can take to address these wider concerns, but we will support Fife Council as it liaises with community groups to explore alternative library provision options,” he added.
Lib Dem group leader Tim Brett has instigated the call-in.