Barnet Council Cabinet members will discuss proposals to close Friern Barnet and North Finchley libraries tonight.

Plans to close both libraries and open a new one at Artsdepot in North Finchley were approved by Cabinet last July, but residents' groups were given time to come up with “community initiatives” to run the services more efficiently.

Save Friern Barnet Library group, which has around 3,000 supporters, has been campaigning to keep the library open. The group worked on a proposal but it was thrown out by the council, and officers have since recommended plans to relocate its services nearly two miles away are approved.

Cabinet members will also discuss the future of Hampstead Garden Suburb’s library at Hendon Town Hall in The Burroughs at 7pm. Officers have recommended the council enters formal negotiations with Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents’ Association over housing a “community library” in the existing building.