Councillors challenged over library cuts 17/1/11
Islanders are being urged to come up with their own budgeted alternatives for service cuts if they feel Western Isles Council is slashing funding in the wrong places.
Library staff challenged councillors over plans to close public libraries for one day a week plus most evenings on top of reducing the summer service at community libraries.
Chief librarian Mary Ferguson highlighted library users are perplexed at being asked how the council could improve the service while it simultaneously plans slashing opening hours.
She suggested the £38,000 could be found by trimming other parts of the library budget.
She was assured councillors would seriously look at costed alternatives put forward by frontline staff and islanders.
Only three members of the public -
The council faces a £24.5 million blackhole over the coming four years.
Numerous council staff are taking voluntary redundancy while a further round of job cuts is likely.
Closing care units is under consideration while savings are also sought in winter road gritting. Cutting sport centres opening hours along with reduced bus services and street cleaning are also being looked at.
A controversial cut is to consider axing the lifeline air flights between Barra and Benbecula to save £220,000 annually.