Running a Council is tough. Times are hard, budgets feel like they are shrinking. It was said before the 2010 General Election that the measures needed to put the economy right would be so harsh that whoever won would be out of power for a generation subsequently. All the more reason for Councils and Government to ensure that there is sensitive handling and community working on a very local level.
So as a councillor in Queen's Park, Brent, I have been shocked, appalled and ashamed at the handling of the proposed closure of libraries in my area by the Labour Council.
Kensal Rise is a small but popular library, opened by Mark Twain, over 100 years old, and with a community who want it to remain open. Since Labour decided to close it residents have asked for the chance to run it, have asked for extra time, have asked for dialogue and even went to court to save their Library.
If Labour had invested the money on legal fees into the library it would be open today. But Labour have shown themselves in their true colours - they closed the library, the have mislead residents time and time again, they have dodged negotiations and refused to enable a real and meaningful dialogue with All Soul's College, Oxford. Then they removed their leader Cllr Ann John in an internal coup and in came Cllr Mohammed Butt with a promise to handle this better.
But then at 3am onTuesday Cllr Butt and Labour Council sent in 12 police and staff to clear the library of all the books, removed the historic 1930's murals and take down the plaque to commemorate Mark Twain.
Whatever the budget situation this has been a disgrace - Labour are showing a total disregard for local people, for libraries, for learning and of the future. Their decision on libraries I think is wrong and should be changed - but their handling and tactics have been truly shameful, aggressive and shocking.
What is needed now to restore any hint of confidence is a total apology, a real dialogue with residents designed to restore their library and a complete rejection of the use of 2am, police backed, bully boy tactics. So Cllr Butt, are you really listening?
* Cllr Simon Green is a Liberal Democrat Councillor In Queen's Park ward, Brent.