Councillor Jane Kean – this is her response to the consolation

I am responding to the Draft Library Strategy 2024-2029 Consultation, as the Labour councillor for the Romford ward of St Alban’s.

Town halls, parish churches, public houses, markets, and local libraries are at the heart of civic life. In the mid-20th century nearly every town, and sizeable village in England boasted a free library. The public provision of a free library was seen as the hallmark of a progressive society where learning was prized as a means of “getting on” socially and economically. Libraries and the learning activities carried out in them contributed directly to the formation of the modern English civic life and culture that many of us grew up and flourished in. It is, therefore, simply bewildering that at a time when we are trying to grow our economy and promote stronger civic values in the younger generation and amongst new immigrants that the council might, if not careful, reduce their opportunities – which in my mind is the only possible outcome if the Council reduces the library estate and service without any firm plan in place to address the remainder of the library estate.

I attended the consultation meetings in Collier Row, Romford and Gidea Park Libraries. There I was forcibly reminded of the role libraries and librarians played in my own personal development. I was an early reader. This was due to the fact that I lived next door to a primary school teacher whose own daughter was a teacher to me. We, family and friends, all regularly visited the Thameside complex in Grays. It was a magical, free, public facility. As well as the theatre, there was also a local history museum and the library. My father studied for his Open University Degree there. While he consulted the academic books in the library, I hung around in the local history museum. It was there I learned Queen Elizabeth 1st’s speech,“ I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too.” This was her famous address to her troops at Tilbury. A generation later, my mother and father took their grandchildren, my children, to the local children’s section of Upminster library whilst I studied at Essex University. I was given special permission to take books out overnight from the University’s short loan section. Later I poured over examples of risk calculations at the library table in Upminster as part of my Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators course. I held lessons on London history and places of interest in the room above Hornchurch library and my choir Fairlytes Singers met in that same room for singing rehearsals before performing at the Queens Theatre. As a result of polio and childhood sickness and poverty one of my grandmothers was illiterate, so I would say that my family is living proof of the importance of library based learning in the lives of working class people trying to “get on.” It is simply backward to be divesting our communities of libraries which are fundamentally publicly accessible spaces for learning and self- improvement. Every day we are confronted with fake news and scams. Havering residents need support with literacy, numeracy, critical thought and research skills more than ever before.

Since my election in 2022, I have visited Romford Library many times, to attend meetings of the Citizens Advice Havering, to meet with residents when it is evident that the situation demands a quiet, private, safe space so that they can offload their concerns, and more recently to borrow litter picks for my “Litter Pick and Natters”. It has sometimes been necessary to book a table so that I can use my laptop; demand for tables with access to plug sockets for laptops is high. Having visited regularly, I doubt Romford Library has the capacity to absorb library users from Gidea Park and Collier Row especially if it has to do so before its own facilities are improved, expanded, or these libraries are closed simultaneously. The strategy document also raises doubts about the capacity of the remaining libraries to absorb the extra demand.

My concern about the strategy and public consultation is that at no time have I seen how the savings figures break down across the library estate, nor have the costs of making those savings been set out in the consultation document. There will be costs to the council of closing and securing buildings and keeping them empty and it is not clear whether the Council intend to sell the land, or develop it using a vehicle for that purpose. What is clear is that the savings of between £334,613 and £350,855 are relatively small whilst the social and economic cost to Havering though difficult to quantify, will be very high and continue for generations.

CURRENT LIBRARY PROVISION IN ROMFORD:

Within the Romford constituency there are three libraries and they are Romford Main Library (open 50 hours a week) and the two branch libraries of Collier Row and Gidea Park (each open 24 hrs a week). These libraries currently serve the constituency of Romford which had a population of 109,351 in 2021 but this is expected to rise to 119,263 in 2031 which falls just outside the life span of the strategy. Please note that whilst St Alban’s Ward, my ward, does not contain a council library, its population is expected to increase by 34% over this period. No other ward is likely to see the same percentage increase. The Council’s draft strategy does not address the issue of Romford’s population growth over time and this is a serious defect in the strategy.

FLAWED BUSINESS CASE FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT WITHOUT PLANS FOR ROMFORD MAIN LIBRARY

The strategy and consultation proposes the development of a business case for capital investment in the remaining library estate following the closure of the four unspecified branch library buildings but, other than two lines of text referring to “an options appraisal and business case for a new children’s library”, there are no details of what that capital investment might look like and when it would be sequenced. Based on that, as an elected Romford Labour councillor, I would like to gently and politely ask the Cabinet Member responsible for this strategy to talk to the cabinet member for regeneration. The omission of any reference to the future of Romford’s main library is a significant flaw in the strategy. I am sure the Cabinet Member for Regeneration might be able to advise the Cabinet Member of the reasons why the future of Romford’s main library makes it imperative that the branch libraries in Romford should remain open, including inter alia: –

· Romford’s status as a thriving metropolitan centre.

· Romford’s population is projected to significantly increase as already mentioned.

· The emerging Romford Masterplan will surely make references and spatial provision for the relocation and expansion of the existing library?

· Romford’s library (built in the 1960’s) is in decline.

· There is huge development opportunity in Romford to use Department of Culture Media and Sport grants and community infrastructure contributions to create a cultural quarter bringing together a new children’s learning centre, the local studies and family history service, the museum and the library, funded by revenue generating uses.

· The branch libraries provide scope for alternative library provision should the administration grasp the opportunities that are clearly present.

Instead the Proposed Library Delivery Model plans for the managed reduction of Havering’s branch libraries which in time may prove to be very costly and short sighted.

DEEP AND UNACCEPTABLE CUTS TO ROMFORD BRANCH LIBRARIES AND LIBRARY PROVISION

The Strategy suggests a reduction in the number of library buildings in the borough by four from ten libraries to six libraries. Identified for potential closure are the two Romford branch libraries of Collier Row and Gidea Park (the other branches being South Hornchurch, Harold Wood, Elm Park and Rainham), but uniquely amongst the Havering constituencies of Dagenham and Rainham, and, Upminster and Hornchurch, that could leave Romford with only one main library which would have to serve a population of approximately 119,263 by the end of the strategy’s lifespan. Not only could Romford lose two branch libraries but 48 hours, out of the proposed reduction of 96 hours would be lost to Romford residents. This is simply unacceptable. It is noted that on the horizon is the possible redevelopment of the Gidea Park Library and this might mitigate that loss but as yet that project is in its early stages.

PROPOSED CLOSURE OF COLLIER ROW BRANCH LIBRARY – UNENLIGHTENED AND COSTLY

There is no world in which it would be right to close the Collier Row branch Library. Yes, the branch library is in poor condition. It was earmarked for closure back in 2019. However, it was given a reprieve because of its importance to the communities that comprise the wards of Havering-atte-bower and Mawneys. I understand it was hoped that an army of volunteers would help run the service. Volunteers did come forward but it is likely that efforts to bolster the service with volunteer help were undermined by the Covid19 pandemic.

The Collier Row library serves two Romford wards, Havering-atte-Bower and Mawneys. Both wards contain a population which is below the English average in terms of educational attainment. 23.3% of residents in Havering-atte-Bower, and 21.5% of residents in Mawneys, over the age of 16 have no qualifications. The English Average is 18.1%. Rather shockingly for a Borough whose Leader has been championing proposals to host and develop Europe’s largest data centre only 5 wards out of the 20 Havering Wards meet that average, or have better educational attainment than the English average. It therefore makes no sense for the council to be reducing the library learning opportunities available to the Borough’s children to improve their knowledge and skills. Skills are on the new Labour Government’s agenda. Whilst the residents in Heaton and Gooshays top the list of most educationally challenged wards, they will continue to have access to the Harold Hill Community Hub which is right. Romford’s children will suffer by comparison.

At the library consultation meetings strong concerns were expressed about the proposed closure of Collier Row branch library because it serves Havering’s rural hinterland and it does not have great transport links to Romford. Collier Row is furthest away from any other nearby library (page 97) when it is closed, its users will be forced to travel by car, bus, bike or on foot into Romford to use the main library. 18.7% of Havering-atte-bowers population and 19.4% of Mawneys’ population do not own a car or van. Residents in these wards would therefore have to walk, cycle or take a bus to Romford to use the main library. The journey times to Romford Library would far exceed current journey times. More concerning, is that fact that at the consultation meetings, the view was expressed repeatedly (and a little unreasonably in my opinion) that Romford was not a popular destination for many residents; an unknown number of older drivers would probably stop using library services because they find negotiating the A12 daunting and the parking costs in Romford’s car parks prohibitive. Additionally, local children from the many local primary schools would not be able to walk to a library escorted by teachers or independently travel because of the perceived risks. Since Collier Row also serves a catchment area with relatively high numbers of children living in poverty it begs the question where will these children go for learning enrichment? Just opening a room in the already booked full to capacity local Community Centres will not address their specific learning needs, it is the skilled human resource in the form of professional library officer that will make a qualitative difference to their lives.

GIDEA PARK LIBRARY AND THE BALGORES SPECIAL SCHOOL

On 8th November 2023 Council approved the commencement of a procurement process for the Balgores Special School, a project that aims to establish in Gidea Park a 300-place special school for children and young people, next to the existing Gidea Park Library, that may be demolished and reconstructed as part of that project. The emerging plans for this proposed school are not referred to in the library strategy. Of course the planning process is far from certain in terms of timing and outcome so that is understandable. It is, therefore, to the general principle of closing the Gidea Park Library before the outcome of that process is known that this part of my email refers. I would like to urge the Cabinet Member for Young People, and Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation and Customer Services, to give serious consideration to the sequencing of the project so that Gidea Park is not left without its valued local library service.

Gidea Park library is loved and used by local residents. Evidence of its place at the heart of the community can be seen from the elaborate murals decorating its walls, to the fine displays of reading scheme books in its children’s section. Attendees of the consultation meetings were left in no doubt of the thought and effort that has gone into making it a warm and welcoming place for local children even if maintenance of the building has not kept pace with that aspiration. It surprises me given the aspiration that resides in its well educated residents that there has been very little capital investment in the library facilities.

Gidea Park branch library does not have the same captive market for its services that Collier Row library has, being nearer to Romford main library. However, it is almost as equally popular as Collier Row, judging from the number of visits to the library and this popularity and affluence should have been a reason to invest in its facilities to create a revenue stream that would have offset its annual running costs. What the Cabinet Member for Digital Transformation and Customer Services should be aware of is that Gidea Park has recently lost two banks and two popular butchers shop. Mindful of the emerging plans for the special school, cabinet members might wish to note that should this library be cut and/or closed prematurely there will be an adverse impact on businesses nearby. In the meantime, is there an opportunity to work with the high street banks to offer a banking or post office hub here?

TECHNOLOGY

Much is made within the strategy of the role that technology could play in mitigating the harm of closing four of Havering’s branch libraries. However, technology will not help those who do not have access to computers or tablets and they are mainly the old, the poor and those with disabilities. Nor is technology fool proof and a substitute for a professional librarian. As Neil Gaiman wittily said, “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one.”

PRICELESS CONTRIBUTION OF THE LIBRARY SERVICE

In bringing this emailed response to the consultation to a close, I thought it important to acknowledge the significant contribution Library staff have made to the mental health and well-being of residents. Residents in the Borough were hit hard by the deprivation of friends and family during Covid19. Hornchurch main library became a vaccination centre. As Havering came out of the pandemic, librarians worked hard to attract back lost visitors. However, libraries soon became houses of hope as they adapted their facilities to meet the physical needs of those seeking warmth and shelter during the worst cost of living crisis in decades. It would be impossible to put a price tag on the contributions that librarians have made but one way of repaying that service would be for the administration to flesh out the missing parts of the library provision jigsaw so far as the future of Romford Main Library and Gidea Park Branch Library are concerned. Then the administration should task its officers with putting its capital to work more efficiently to attract grants for capital investment that would generate new revenue income and reduce library running costs through improved energy efficiency.

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to read this response to your consultation. I hope to receive an acknowledgement and response to my comments in due course.