Protesters outside Havering Town Hall. Credit: LDRS
(Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sebastian Mann)
The authority proposed closing the libraries to save around £300,000 amid a £32.5million budget deficit identified in February.
Libraries in Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood, and south Hornchurch are all at risk.
Councillors clashed over the future of the borough’s libraries during a lengthy and lively debate last night (4th September).
Labour councillor Mandy Anderson said: “The council might be financially poor but we cannot use that to justify creating poverty of hearts, mind and soul.”
February’s budget, with its £32.5m black hole, was the “best we could do with what we had,” she said. The council accepted a £54m loan from the government in March, but is yet to withdraw any money.
Councillor Phil Ruck, with the Residents’ Association Independent Group, said the council should take the “moral decision” to keep the libraries open.
He said: “What is the social cost of closing that library? It’s a lot more than £300,000.”
Members of the Havering Residents Association (HRA), which controls the council, told the chamber they did not want to close any libraries in the borough.
Deputy leader Gillian Ford, who now oversees libraries, said “every single council department” has had to find ways to “do things more efficiently”. That has included letting staff go or “paring back service provision”.
She said: “Havering does not receive enough funding from central government. We cannot balance the budget or sustain things.”
She added decisions “had to be made” and the process “could not be halted,” as the strain on the coffers was becoming “unsustainable”.
Chris Wilkins, the cabinet member for finance, said the council was in “serious trouble” financially. It is predicting an overspend of £33m by the year’s end, which means it may need to borrow money.
More than 4,000 people have responded to a consultation about the libraries’ future, which ran until 2nd August.
The questionnaire focused on how often people visit their local library, which services they use and if anything, such as transport issues or limited opening hours, prevents them from visiting more.
The council will use the feedback to decide which four to close.
Romford Central Library, Harold Hill Library, Hornchurch Library, Upminster Library and Rainham Library will all remain open. The council says they account for 80% of visits.
Councillor Keith Prince, leader of the Havering Conservatives, said the prospect of closures “should never have come up”.
He said £300,000 was a “decimal point” in what needed to be saved and the closures could put the “lifeblood of the communities” at risk.
He suggested the “Shenfield option,” referring to the replacement of an old library with an expanded, more modern building. New flats were built on the upper floors to fund the development.
However, regeneration chief Graham Williamson said that while it was the “obvious answer,” savings still needed to be made.
The cabinet member said: “If we don’t make savings, you won’t get anything else again.”
Prior to the full council meeting, more than 150 campaigners gathered outside the town hall to protest the plans.
Residents spoke about how their education and senses of culture had been positively impacted by reading library books as young children.
They carried placards reading, “Save our libraries” and, “Two-four-six-eight, libraries open, no debate”.
Gabby Lawler, the Havering branch secretary for trade union Unison, said: “The rally organised by the joint unions and Green Party was a clear demonstration of how powerful the community’s voice continues to be, with many heartfelt speeches from activists, residents and councillors across all opposition parties.
“It was great to hear from all ages and the overwhelming turnout highlights the strength of Havering residents’ collective voice and determination to fight to keep our libraries open.”
She said the closures would have a “detrimental impact on the poorest and most vulnerable” in Havering.
Children’s author Michael Rosen, the former Children’s Laureate, has called the closure of libraries across the UK a “decimation”.
The Harrow-born poet said it was “absolutely horrifying” to hear of libraries shutting their doors, having played a formative role in his life.
