CITY OF RYDE REFUTES CRITICISMS OF HUNTERS HILL LIBRARY
AGREEMENT
The City of Ryde has refuted misleading claims that it is charging an unfair rate to provide library
services to Hunters Hill residents.
The claims were made after it was revealed that Lane Cove Council and Hunter ‘s Hill C ou ncil were
set to enter in to a shared service arrangement. Under the ar rangement, both councils would share
key functions including library services, information technology, a works depot and senior staff.
The shared service arrangement is progressing despite a Joint Library Agreement being in place
between Hunter ‘s Hill Council and the City of Ryde since 1957.
As part of the Joint Library Agreement, the City of Ryde and Hunter ‘s Hill Council operate the
Gladesville Library for Gladesville and Hunters Hill residents.
Speaking to the Northern District Times about the new shared service arrangement with Lane Cove
Council, Hunter ‘s Hill Council Deputy Mayor Clr Ben Collins said his council was “overpaying by
several -hundred thousand dollars” due to the Joint Library Agreement. He added that Hunters Hill
residents only use six per cent of the Gladesville library service.
In the same article, Lane Cove Deputy Mayor Scott Bennison claimed the City of Ryde was “gouging
Hunters Hill”.
The quotes attributed to both councillors are inaccurate and misleading.
The City of Ryde can confirm that Hunter ‘s Hill Council’s expenditure on library services is lower per
capita than surrounding councils.
The most recent public library funding statistics released by the State Library of NSW for 2017/18
revealed that total expenditure for library services by Hunter ‘s Hill Council was $48.01 per capita. This
is far lower than the expenditure for the City of Ryde ($56.83) and Lane Cove ($90.83).
Per capita expenditure for library s ervices 2016/17
Ryde 56.83 Willoughby 82.42
Lane Cove 90.30 Hunters Hill 48.01
Mosman 94.37 North Sydney 65.78
Not only does the City o f Ryde have a higher per capita expen diture, it is arguably subsidising the
cost of the library service it offers to Hunter ‘s Hill Council.
In addition, the claim by Clr Collins that only six per cent of Hunters Hill residents use the library
service is based on the total book loans. This is not a reasonable basis for calculating the Hunters Hill
contribution as there is no correlation to the total cost of providing the service.
The claim also fails to consider the full range of library services provided to Hunters Hill residents.
including online library, school holiday activities, free Wi -Fi, home library service and community
events.
Despite the Joint Library Agreement being in place for more than 60 years, the City of Ryde had not
been consulted about the details of the shared service arrangement between Hunter ‘s Hill Council
and Lane Cove Council and has not yet been given an opportunity to negotiate a new agreement for
library services.
While the City of Ryde is extremely disappointed about the lack of consultation, Council will need to
consider its options for the site if the Joint Library Agreement is terminated by Hunter ‘s Hill Council.
If the A greement is terminated, the City of Ryde will need to consider the value of maintaining a
service which is used by Hunter s Hill residents particularly if their council was not contributing the
operational costs.
In the event that Gladesville Library ceases operation and the shared service arrangement between
Hunters Hill and Lane Cove councils was formalised, Hunters Hill residents would be forced to utilise
Lane Cove Libr ary and could lose access to the City of Ryde’s extensive online library of eBooks.
audiobooks and magazines.
It is the City of Ryde’s aim to continue its successful relationship with Hunter’s Hill Council to deliver
the best outcome for both Hunters Hil l and City of Ryde residents.
