Labour councillors plan to fight Cabinet’s decision to close Friern Barnet Library.

Cllr Barry Rawlings will ask for the decision to be referred back to Barnet Council's Cabinet in an attempt to prevent the closure which was announced on Monday evening.

Cllr Rawlings will argue a community group’s bid to run the library more efficiently was not considered properly.

Save Friern Barnet Library campaign group put forward a proposal to Councillor Robert Rams, cabinet member for customer access and partnerships and council officers, but it was turned down.

Cllr Rams said: "Unfortunately, the proposal submitted for Friern Barnet was not viable as it isn’t a no cost or low cost solution.

"Their proposal required the continued provision of staffing by the Council – which, with associated overhead costs, would have made it unaffordable."

Cllr Rawlings said Cabinet were given incorrect figures relating to SFBL’s bid, and that the campaign group was misled about using the current site.

He said: “The expression of interest document clearly states that renting the building was a possibility, yet they have now been told that a capital receipt for the land is what the administration want and the decision to close the library has already been made.”

Cabinet agreed to plans to close both Friern Barnet and North Finchley libraries in favour of setting up a “Landmark Library” at Artsdepot in North Finchley.

But Cllr Rawlings will also argue Friern Barnet Library should not close on March 31, before the new facilities at Artsdepot are up and running.

He said: “Assurances were given that Friern Barnet Library would not close before services were transferred to the Artsdepot, but the new Landmark Library proposed at Artsdepot will not be in place when the Friern Barnet Library closes.”

Cllr Rams said: "The council has been very open to ideas but has been clear that any solution identified had to be of no cost or low cost to the council.

"If the group wanted to continue to provide services in Friern Barnet library, they would need to buy it – but the council has been clear that it would welcome proposals to provide a community library from other premises which would not require them having to buy the building.

“We believe Friary House would be a low cost solution which would offer residents a valuable community space in accommodation that already has a café and facilities for children on site."

He said he hopes to have some services, such as Children’s Rhyme Time, running at the Artsdepot by April 1, although he could not promise all services would be in place.

Cllr Rawlings will announce the call-in at the next Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, February 29.