A council cannot confirm there will be no cuts to library services.

At Brighton and Hove City council’s most recent full council meeting, Labour councillor Gary Wilkinson raised a question about cuts to library funding in the city.

Cllr Wilkinson mentioned the cost of living pressures the council was facing.

He said: “Many councils are facing considerable challenges in sustaining essential services because of the rising costs of energy and other inflationary pressures.”

He said essential services like libraries are the very things people depend upon to “stay health and connected.”

In their response, the council was unable to confirm that there would be no cuts to libraries, citing forecasted financial shortfalls.

The council's policy and resources committee, which estimates costs and demands, produced a report on budgets for the next financial year.

“This indicated potential budget shortfalls of £13 million in the best case, to £21 million at the midpoint, up to £31 million in a worst-case scenario,” said Councillor Martin Osborne, on behalf of the council.

The council pointed to shortcomings in financial support from central Government, and said that without additional government grants provided to councils the budget shortfall is “likely to be at the midpoint or higher.”

It neither confirmed or denied that there would be further cuts to library services.

Cllr Osborne added: “I am proud that we have supported our libraries throughout this period, and I will be doing everything I can to protect this valuable service as far as possible and which will, of course, be a decision for all councillors at Budget Council.”

“After 12 years of Conservative austerity there are little non statutory services to cut,” said Cllr Osborne.