By Richard Evans
Conwy is conducting an official investigation after 鈥溌126K savings鈥 presented to back the closure of Llandudno 鈥檚 Mostyn Street library were labelled inaccurate. At a special meeting on Wednesday, Conwy 鈥檚 head of finance claimed closing Llandudno鈥檚 library and moving the service to Venue Cymru would save 拢126K a year.
Head of finance Ms Amanda Hughes had claimed Conwy was paying around 拢46,000 a year in electricity bills to Npower at the current site 鈥 a sum referenced as a future saving if the move went ahead. But this was before Cllr Louise Emery produced a letterheaded bill at the Coed Pella scrutiny committee.
Cllr Emery said Conwy only owed 38% of the 拢46,000. This was, Cllr Emery claimed, because the rest was legally payable by other tenants of the library building’s owners Mostyn Estates, who occupied other floors. But part of Conwy鈥檚 argument for moving was the 拢126K-a-year saving, which was included in a report presented to strengthen the council鈥檚 case. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox.
This led to Ms Hughes revealing she was 鈥渃oncerned鈥, 鈥渄isappointed鈥, and 鈥渄ismayed鈥 as she was only now aware Conwy had paid the full 拢46,000 on behalf of the whole building, throwing the 鈥溌126K鈥 savings into doubt. The figures being questioned also led to Cllr Emery raising doubts that other savings could be incorrect.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the council to clarify the situation and if the authority had recovered payments it had made on behalf of Mostyn Estates鈥 tenants. A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented: 鈥淪trategic director of finance and resources is investigating the issues raised at economy and place scrutiny committee on Wednesday so that the details can be clarified before cabinet consider the report on Tuesday.鈥
As the statement suggests, Conwy鈥檚 cabinet is expected to vote in favour of the Mostyn Street library鈥檚 closure on Tuesday, with the service moving to Venue Cymru as part of a UK Government-funded 拢10m 鈥渁rts centre鈥 revamp. Cllr Emery, who raised the issue – as well as fears about a lack of a business plan for the revamp of the theatre – said she had serious concerns.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad they are taking my concerns seriously with the information that I had on Wednesday, and it is good to see they are doing an investigation, but I鈥檓 quite surprised that they needed to do that considering the chief financial officer said the information she had was accurate,鈥 she said.
鈥淚鈥檓 very concerned that the costs, which they say are with the library, and particularly the new costs relating to moving the library, that they really don鈥檛 have those drilled down in any sort of detail, and we really can鈥檛 make a decision until we have exact costings of the move.鈥
She added: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think they鈥檝e (the council) got the figures right on the rates. I don鈥檛 think they鈥檝e got the figures right on the future maintenance of the building. I think we are going into this blind, and I鈥檓 really concerned about the cost of moving the library and the ongoing costs if it does go into Venue Cymru.鈥
Mostyn Estates wouldn鈥檛 comment on the situation regarding the 拢46,000 electricity bill but did raise fears that moving the library would affect footfall on the high street. Jon Merrick is the business development manager for Mostyn Estates.
鈥淲e are unable to comment on any matters regarding a tenant/landlord arrangement at the current library in Mostyn Street, but our position on the proposed move of the library to Venue Cymru is that we are opposed to this suggestion,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e are totally supportive of Venue Cymru and their efforts to upgrade and refurbish the building. We believe Venue Cymru has a strong and positive story to tell, that they should aim to base their business plan for the grant funding solely on the theatre, arts, and conferencing rather than bringing in key services such as the library and Tourism Information Centre, which alienates a large proportion of local businesses and community, as well as jeopardising the town centre by removing a 200,000 footfall from Mostyn Street. This is not helpful to small independent businesses trading on the high street.鈥
The results of a public consultation conducted by Conwy revealed 76% of 999 residents were worried about access to the new library service at Venue Cymru. A petition of around 1,100 signatures also backed a campaign to keep the library at its current location. Conwy鈥檚 leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey was unavailable for comment. Conwy鈥檚 cabinet is set to vote on Tuesday 8 July.
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