The Lambeth Scrutiny Committee hearing last night proved to be another shot in the arm for local activism. The audience from across Lambeth and Crystal Palace from libraries affected and not affected filled the massive Lilian Bayliss School, hall in Vauxhall. They literally persuaded councillors to listen and vote with their conscience. Sadly all too rare in our local council chambers. The vote to send the proposals back to cabinet were only defeated by a single vote. And the proposals were mauled and looked threadbare. The 4 party apparatchiks that did as they were told by chair Ed Davie (who dismissed library supporters as Trots on Twitter) displayed a horrible arrogance that has been castigated by MP Kate Hoey. This is Ed Davie who recognised that libraries are disproportionately used younger people, older people, by black and ethnic minorities, disabled people etc and for crass party political reasons couldn't find it in himself to refer the proposals back to cabinet for a re think. Those who arrogantly did not listen will not be forgotten, whereas the four councillors that voted to bin the present proposals of halving Lambeth's librarary provision by 50% can give us all hope that Lambeth can find redemption. As always thanks to those who attended from Crystal Palace. This coming together of people to defend their communities is so positive. The Brixton Buzz article below does not reflect the attitude of the Friends of Lambeth Libraries and the Upper Norwood Library Campaign this is just the beginning until these rubbish proposals are scrapped. There is a really interesting alternative proposal which is a staff-led mutual for all 10 Lambeth Libraries that got a lot more publicity and traction last night. If you've wondered when the fight back from and for decent people would begin look to the solidarity of the Lambeth Libraries and Upper Norwood Library Campaigners from #Crystal Palace to #Waterloo. #United. I was feeling pretty exhausted before the hearing expecting nothing but political grand standing and a rubber stamp. But instead people diid make a difference and I felt invigorated after it. The next Save Lambeth Libraries public meeting is on Monday 16 November at 6.30 for 7-8.30pm in the Carnegie Library 188 Herne Hill Rd, London SE24 0AG Get on the battle bus. Defend The 10. http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2015/11/lambeth-library-campaigners-convince-scrutiny-committee-to-make-recommendations-to-lambeth-council-cabinet-over-book-ish-gyms/