Croydon Council has announced today that it intends to terminate its contract with troubled contractor Carillion and will take its libraries back in-house and protect library staff jobs.
Government services provider Carillion is to go into liquidation, it stated this morning. The company took over the running of Croydon’s libraries in 2012.
Now the council has stepped in to secure the long-term future of all Croydon libraries and guarantee the jobs of library staff. Council officers will be working with libraries today to ensure they remain open.
Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “The council has been considering its options over the past few months after it became clear that Carillion was running into difficulties. We are determined to protect and boost our libraries for residents now and for generations to come.”
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council, said: “The libraries were outsourced by the previous administration, which was something that we didn’t support. I am pleased that we’ve been able to take prompt action to secure the library service and the jobs of library staff. In the year we bid to become London Borough of Culture it is important to ensure libraries are at the heart of all our communities.”
