Agenda item

[Report of the Assistant Director for Economic Development and Growth  and  Chief Finance Officer. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Culture and the Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources.]

The report will  set out the proposed relocation of the existing Highgate Library Service  to Jacksons Lane Cultural Centre  and seek an in principle decision to dispose of existing  Highgate site and  fund improvements to Jackson lane including new Library space.

The Leader introduced the report which was seeking an in principle agreement from Members to the relocation of Highgate Library, to Jacksons Lane Arts Centre and was further seeking an in principle agreement to the disposal of the freehold of the existing Highgate Library site following a successful relocation of the library which would be through the Highgate Library Service Relocation Project (“the Scheme”).

In response to Councillor Carter’s questions the following information was noted:

• That an in principle decision was being sought on disposal before the feasibility study was completed, to provide comfort to the Arts Council, of the Council match funding the capital funding bid from Jackson’s Lane Arts Centre.

• Assurance that the community in Highgate will continue to have a Library service fit for purpose in the 21 century.

• That there would be a future consultation on the relocation of the Library and Highgate library offer, subject to a positive feasibility study.

• Jacksons Lane Arts Centre can acquire their building lease as any other community organisation in the borough can do. A Community Asset Transfer Policy for community buildings which sets out terms for transfer to a private or community organisation would be due for decision at July Cabinet.

RESOLVED

1. To agree in principle to the Scheme to relocate from the existing Highgate Library service (shown edged red on the plan at Appendix B) to Jacksons Lane Arts Centre (shown edged red on the plan at Appendix A) subject to a feasibility study to be approved at a later meeting of Cabinet, but in considering this recommendation, Members are referred to the legal comments of the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance at paragraph 8.2 in the attached report.

2. To agree that the Highgate Library site ( as shown edged red on the plan at Appendix B) be reviewed on the basis that it is surplus to requirements and that the freehold interest can be disposed of, subject to the existing Highgate Library service being able to relocate to the JLAC and to submit a further report to Cabinet with the proposed terms for the disposal of the site for approval;

3. To agree that costs associated with necessary condition works to JLAC and all costs associated with relocating the library service to JLAC (including fit out and fees) will be funded by the capital programme but to the maximum total amount of the capital receipt obtained from the disposal of the existing Highgate Library site (valuation letter for the disposal can be found at Appendix C, which is the Part B Exempt Report) and the new Library service will continue to be managed by the Council. The Council’s contribution will include £1m of match funding, which will be alongside Arts Council funding and JLAC other funding sources. The total funding contribution from the Council will be part of a later report presented to Cabinet;

4. To agree to the inclusion of a new scheme (Jackson Lane Arts Centre Enhancement & Highgate Library Service Relocation project) within the approved capital programme.

Reasons for Decision

The opportunity to relocate the existing library service in Highgate to JLAC has been presented to the Council and has the potential to significantly improve the current offer to the community by improving the library environment and technology available and also presenting a more coherent approach to the wider community offer in the area.

There is currently very limited funding for improvements to the existing Highgate Library service. The relocation of the library service will make capital available to support an enhanced library space on the JLAC site and complement the Arts Council funding which is being sought to support refurbishment and condition works at JLAC.

The JLAC is a Grade 2 listed former church building for which the Council has freehold ownership. The lease to the JLAC expired on the 11^th August 2013 and they are holding over on the lease and have a right of renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The building is in a poor state of repair with a number of condition issues and a backlog of repairs and maintenance. The Arts Council funding therefore provides the opportunity for capital to be available to prioritise these condition works to be completed at the earliest opportunity.

A timely decision on this opportunity is required in order for the library service relocation to be included in a variation to the existing Arts Council funding bid.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing: If the Council chooses to not progress this opportunity it will only make minor improvements to the library services in Highgate. There will not be the same partnership opportunities with JLAC to provide a more collaborative approach to the arts and cultural offer within the local area. In addition to this without the match funding to the Arts Council bid, the JLAC building does not have an opportunity to become more accessible, efficient and sustainable, nor does it have the capacity for growing audiences and intensifying use. The lack of condition works could make some areas of the building increasingly unusable and therefore the Council as Landlord would need to address these concerns, but without adequate budget for medium or long term improvements.