The Paraparaumu Raumati Community Board is urging the Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC) to reverse the savage cuts in the Libraries’ books and materials budget.

Alan Tristram reports that there’s been a wave of protest since the KCDC voted to virtually halve the budget ( from $403,000 to $211,000) in a stealthy move earlier in the year.

At no stage were the District’s 42,000 library users informed of the cuts –until the Kapiti Independent broke the story.

But last night, the new Paraparaumu and Raumati Community Board voted to try to claw back the missing budget.

The only board members to oppose the motion were Jonny Best (the former chair) and Grace Lindsay .

The motion was put by long-time libraries’ champion Cr Bernie Randall; and seconded by new deputy chair, Guy Burns.

The new chair, Kathy Spiers, and Councillor Martin Halliday ( who is also a board member) supported the move.

The decision will now go forward to a full meeting of the Council in January.