Agenda item

[Report of  the Chief Operating Officer. To be introduced by the Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Culture.] This report summarises the results of this consultation and sets out the next steps for exploring the options for Muswell Hill Library and 54/56 Muswell Hill.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Libraries introduced the report which set out the results of the 12 week consultation looking at the option of moving Muswell Hill Library to a new location at 54/56 Muswell Hill (the site of the former Green Man pub). Over 1280 responses were received including 775 from the N10 area and the report set out the next steps for exploring the options for Muswell Hill library and 54/56 Muswell Hill. The majority of responses favoured keeping the library in the existing building. There was strength of feeling for the library building but there was a distinction between this and the provision of the actual library service provision. Taking this on board, the Cabinet Member recommended further exploring potential future uses of the Muswell Hill Library building and also the 54-56 Muswell Hill [ Green Man site] to ensure that future recommendations on the location of the library takes into consideration the option for both sites.

In response to the questions from Cllr Engert, it was noted:

·         The district valuer had valued both the Greenfields Special School site [Coppets road] and Green Man [54-56 Muswell Hill] site at equal sums; the former was freehold and latter for 999 year lease when the land swap was taken forward. In legal terms there was no significant difference between these legal interests.

·         The Greenfields Special School [Coppets road] had a freehold agreement and Green Man site [54-56 Muswell Hill]   999 lease on peppercorn rent.

·          The D1 change of use to the ground floor of the Green Man site could include a post office and this should not be a planning obstacle.

·         As part of transformation programme for moving customer services centres to Libraries this had required a higher investment in Marcus Garvey and Wood Green Library’s.

In response to a question from Councillor Newton:

The Leader advised that space above the Green Man site allowed only one bedroom homes. This was part of a solution to the housing crisis which extends across the spectrum. Given the 6 units would enable an opportunity for people to get on the housing ladder and shared ownership properties were still popular, this allocation contributes to meeting some housing need.

RESOLVED

1.    To authorise the Assistant Director for Capital Property and Major Projects, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Customer Services & Culture, to explore potential options for future uses of Muswell Hill Library and 54/56 Muswell Hill to support the decision making process around the best options for both sites, including retention of the library service in the current building, or the ground floor of the new building.

2.    Based on the findings of 3.1 above, for the Assistant Directors for Capital Property and Major Projects and for Customer Services & Libraries, to present a Cabinet Report in Spring 2017 which sets out a recommendation on the future location of Muswell Hill Library.

Reasons for decision

The consultation results and comments show that respondents feel strongly about retaining the current library building as a community asset. The consultation results are detailed further in section 6 and in the appendices.

There is a clear theme in the consultation responses around the value of the current library building as a community asset, given its listed status and architectural importance in Muswell Hill.

Given the strength of feeling around the current library building, it is recommended that further consideration is given to the possible future uses of both the current library building, and the new ground floor space at 54/56 Muswell Hill, including retention of the library service in the current building, or the ground floor of the new building.

It is recommended that a further Cabinet Paper be presented in spring 2017 which explores the options so for the current building and for 54/56 Muswell Hill. This means that a decision on the future location of the library can be taken in consideration of these possible options.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing. As the consultation results were in favour of leaving the library service in the current building, there is the option of doing nothing and making no changes to the service. However, given the Council have acquired the new space at 54/56 Muswell Hill and the opportunity to move the library service to this location, this option is not recommended at this point. Once full consideration has been given to the possible options for both the current library building and 54/56 Muswell Hill, then a balanced decision can be made on the future location for the library service.

Make a decision now without knowledge of the future possible options for the current library building or 54/56 Muswell Hill. It is possible to take a decision at this point on where the library service should be located without consideration for how the current library site or 54/56 Muswell Hill could be used. This is not recommended as it will be preferable to take this decision with full consideration of the options available for both sites, including retention of the library service in the current building, or the ground floor of the new building.