THE council has defended itself after the Barrow MP claimed the authority ‘refused’ to defer plans to relocate Ulverston’s library service to discuss a £2 million offer to refurbish the closed-down facility.

Members of the cabinet for Westmorland and Furness Council approved the permanent relocation of the library service into the Coronation Hall at a meeting on September 10.

The cabinet also approved a recommendation that declared the currently closed Ulverston Library building on King’s Road ‘surplus to existing operational needs’ with the future options for the asset to be assessed.

READ MORE: Ulverston library service relocation to Coronation Hall approved

Following the cabinet meeting, MP for Barrow and Furness Michelle Scrogham claimed in a Facebook post the authority ‘refused’ to defer a decision to re-locate the library service so the offer could be discussed.

The Labour MP wrote: “On Monday afternoon a £2 million donation was secured to put us in a position to be able refurbish King’s Road library in Ulverston.

“I immediately wrote to cabinet members (those with the power to vote on this) at Westmorland and Furness Council asking them to defer their decision on its closure this week, until I could meet with them to discuss the offer.

“They refused.

“I will raise it with the leaders of the council, and full council to attempt to find a solution, and reasoning for this decision.”

READ MORE: Ulverston town councillors 'disappointed' with library decision

However a spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said in a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “At no point did the council ‘refuse’ anything.”

The statement added: “We understand a post has been published on the Barrow and Furness MP’s social media account that states that a £2 million donation has been secured from a ‘local business’ to refurbish the King’s Road library building.

“The post says the MP asked to meet with Cabinet members to discuss the offer and requested they defer a decision on the future operating model for Ulverston Library service and The Coro at their scheduled meeting on Tuesday, 10 September.

“The post says the offer to meet to discuss the proposal was ‘refused’.

“The Council can confirm a short email was received from the MP at 8.15pm on Monday evening.

“The email referenced a meeting the MP had been in where an ‘offer’ of funding had been made towards refurbishment of the King’s Road building.

“No further detail was provided about the source of the funding or the amount. There was no mention in the email of £2 million.

“The Leader of the council responded that same evening to ask for further details and information, so this could be evaluated and considered as part of the discussions at the following morning’s Cabinet meeting.

“No response was received to this request for further information ahead of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. At no point did the Council ‘refuse’ anything.

“With no details to consider, particularly about the source of the proposed funding, amounts involved or any conditions attached, the Council was not in a position to make a meaningful judgment on whether this would warrant a discussion about a deferral at Tuesday’s meeting.

“The decision at this week’s Cabinet on the future operating model of the library service and Coro is linked to the process to agree funding for capital works required, so that the necessary funds can be allocated as part of the budget-setting process. Decisions on funding still need to be approved by Full Council and any delay in the process at this stage could risk the necessary funds not being approved in the budget.’’

It is understood the proposed donation is from GSK, who announced last week it would cease operations in Ulverston and work with local leaders on how best to invest a £2 million donation to benefit the local community.

The spokesperson previously said: “As ever, our first priority is to support them as much as we can – which we are continuing to do – as well as make sure we fulfil our commitments to the wider community, including a £2 million donation for which we are working with local leaders to determine how to best invest and benefit the local community.”