Scrutiny Meeting In Havering Shows The Cabinet That Decisions Cannot Be Rushed.

News from Havering Labour Councillors.

At the meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Board on Thursday 8th January, a cross-party committee agreed that the Cabinet decision to demolish South Hornchurch Library needed further investigation.

The Cabinet decision in December touched on the fate of three buildings, while it was noted that a community group was negotiating with the Council to run the Harold Wood site, officers admitted that the Councils long term vision was for housing.

The Gidea Park site is now earmarked for the building of a unit offering respite care for children with additional needs.

South Hornchurch meanwhile was being pushed through to sale on the open market, despite the need for the Council to rebuild its own in-house provision of services.

Questions to officers centred on the lack of options presented to Cabinet, and when the decision to send the matter back to Cabinet for reconsideration was upheld, councillors recommended that a greater range of options, particularly for South Hornchurch and Harold Wood, was considered.

Beam Park Labour Councillor Matt Stanton sits on the committee and sought reassurance from officers that all departments of the council had been offered use of the site before decisions were taken to offer it for sale. “We are trying to bring our costs down, and every time we sell an asset we get a one off payment and lose an opportunity to provide a service from that site, whether that’s care, housing, or even a reprovisioned library”, he told the Havering Daily.

St Albans Labour Councillor Jane Keane emphasised the benefit that the provision of respite would have on local families. “How much more reassuring it will be, for parents to be able to quickly and simply reach the location, and how much better for the borough that we will have more money to spend on other services”

While the Cabinet can decide to carry on with its original decision, it will have to address the concerns raised by the committee before it can proceed.

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