Swansea University’s Richard Burton Archive, Pennard and Pontardawe libraries benefit from share of £2.2m grant

By South Wales Evening Post  |  Posted: April 09, 2014

Source: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-University-s-Richard-Burton-Archive/story-20932514-detail/story.html

John Griffiths-Minister for Culture and Sport (Photo = Copyright South Wales Evening Post)

AN under-threat library and the preservation of our steel industry history are set to receive a hefty cash boost.

The Welsh Government has announced £2.2 million in funding for libraries, museums and archives.

The Welsh Government has announced £2.2 million in funding for libraries, museums and archives.

As part of the pot Pennard Library, which was recently given a reprieve from closure, has been awarded a share of nearly £1 million, as has Pontardawe Library.

Pennard Library was listed for closure under Swansea Council’s 2014/15 budget. However, after a robust campaign, it was taken off the table at the last minute and the community was offered the opportunity to run it with Swansea Council.

Pennard Library

Council and community could come together to save Pennard library

08 FEB 2014

Pennard Library

From: South Wales Evening Post; Saturday February 08, 2014
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Hopes-saving-library/story-20587807-detail/story.html

LIBRARY campaigners in Pennard are being told if next week’s council budget is approved by cabinet, they will have to work with Swansea Council to keep it going.  It had been earmarked for closure but cabinet next week will be asked to look at the way in which the community can help run it.  Nick Bradley, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “There were strong views expressed by residents and during the budget consultation process we listened very carefully to what they had to say. That’s why we want to look at what can be achieved through the council and the community working together to ensure the library has a sustainable long-term future. ”We’re proposing the council continues to operate Pennard Library for now while we work with the community.”

Swansea Council leader David Phillips writes for the South Wales Evening Post

30Jan2014
Swansea Council leader David Phillips writes for the South Wales Evening Post
By South Wales Evening Post  |  Posted: January 30, 2014
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-Council-leader-David-Phillips-writes/story-20525883-detail/story.html

MY colleagues and I were elected to run Swansea Council in 2012, on a pledge that “community engagement … empowering local communities, enabling their voices to be heard”, would be at the heart of what we did.

And that is what we put into practise with the Sustainable Swansea — fit for the future consultation — asking residents, staff, businesses, the voluntary sector and partner organisations what you wanted, and then listening to and considering your answers.

If we scroll back to September last year, you’ll remember that we were – and still are — looking at having to make savings of £26-plus million this year and a total of £45m over the next couple of years.

For the first time since devolution, councils like ours are staring at a real-terms reduction in funding. It is a huge challenge. It means we have to think differently, do things differently and do different things.

Unlike some councils we saw this challenge as an opportunity. We shared with you our ideas about what the future shape of services might be. Some people — not all — doubted whether it was an open and honest effort to listen.

But it was and your feedback has influenced the development of our budget to help us achieve the smarter, leaner and more efficient Council people wanted to see in the future.  More…

We have listened

24 JAN 2014

‘We have listened’: Swansea’s ruling Labour group alters proposals on care homes, parking charges and school crossing patrols

From: South Wales Evening Post; Saturday January 24, 2014
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/listened-Swansea-s-ruling-Labour-group-alter/story-20496147-detail/story.html

CITY leaders in Swansea insist they have listened to the public after rowing back on a number of controversial budget proposals.

From care homes to car parking, libraries to lollipop men and women, Swansea’s Labour administration has gone back to the drawing board.

And it said this was ample proof that its public consultation on the budget proposals, which ended on Wednesday, was no sham.

“People accused us about not being serious about the consultation,” said councillor Rob Stewart, cabinet member for finance.

Related content 

Pennard Library

Council and community could come together to save Pennard library

“But this demonstrates that we are serious, and that we do listen and change our position.

”The Labour administration will publish its revised budget proposals shortly.

They will be debated by full council at an earlier than planned meeting on February 11.

Mr Stewart said the revised proposals were:

– A commitment not to close any residential care homes before April 2015.

– Giving Pennard library campaigners a further eight months to look at different ways of funding the service, plus a commitment to review library services throughout Swansea to match provision better with demand.