North Somerset Council is set to impose an additional £50,000 funding cut to its libraries, even as the final decisions about previous closures have yet to be ratified. This new reduction comes after last year’s significant 20% (£433,000) cut, which put three local libraries at risk.
The council’s move to reduce funding has sparked concern across the community, with vocal opposition from Weston-super-Mare’s MP, schoolchildren, a local author, and a former council leader, all pleading to save their libraries.
Just two weeks ago, the council released proposals detailing which libraries would close and which would remain open. However, before councillors have approved these recommendations, they are now considering further cuts aimed at balancing an increasingly strained budget.
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Despite being granted permission by the government to increase council tax by 8.99%, North Somerset still faces a £2.4 million shortfall in its 2026/27 budget. The council is legally required to balance its finances, but rising social care expenses coupled with deep government funding cuts limit its options for savings.
In response, the council has drafted a series of immediate cost-saving proposals totaling £2.68 million for the next financial year. Among these is a plan to reduce library opening hours further, representing the £50,000 cut, which would take effect in 2027/28 due to anticipated worsening budget gaps.
A spokesperson for North Somerset Council stated: “Additional savings across the council will be needed beyond those already identified so that we can set a balanced budget for future financial years. Any saving will consider community needs and be subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment to ensure that impacts on the community are fully understood and minimised.”
The full council will vote on these budget proposals, including the library funding cuts and the council tax rise, at a meeting scheduled for February 24 at Weston-super-Mare Town Hall. In the same meeting, councillors will also decide on the final recommendations regarding library closures.
It is proposed that Worle Library will close on September 7, while Winscombe Library is set to shut at the end of March 2027 unless community groups step in to manage them. Pill Library, previously at risk, will remain open following a public consultation with over 5,000 responses, though this decision comes with additional cuts to other libraries’ hours.