Bid Fails To Get Council Money For Chiswick Library

Local councillors say it is now "inadequate" for users

A bid by Chiswick councillors to have £1 million earmarked by Hounslow Council in its new budget towards the refurbishment of Chiswick Library has failed. Local councillors have complained that the second-busiest library in the borough is in the worst condition of any of the other libraries and in urgent need of investment.

Councillors voted against an amendment proposed by Cllr Adrian Lee and seconded by Cllr John Todd at the Borough Council meeting to discuss the LBH Budget for 2015/2016 earlier this week.

Cllr Peter Thompson, Leader of the Group said; “Our library as it stands is inadequate now and becomes more and more so with every passing year.  It is the second busiest in the Borough and it is definitely in the worst condition of any of Hounslow’s Libraries.  The Reference Library and Local Studies rooms are inaccessible to those with mobility issues and it is crying out for investment to preserve and renovate the Victorian features of the library and provide modern facilities that meet the needs of today’s users.

"The Council has been talking since 2002 about proposals to fund improvements using S106 monies gained from new developments in Chiswick.  £600,000 which could have been spent on the library had now been allocated to the restoration of Gunnersbury Park so the time is right for the Council to stop dithering and invest in our Library." 

Cllr John Todd said: “I was particularly disappointed that Labour’s Councillor Ruth Cadbury spoke out so strongly against our plans.  She has been holding surgeries in Chiswick Library, despite being a councillor for Brentford, for a few months now so she must know at first-hand what state the building is in.  Last year we were told that the Council was about to publish its new Leisure and Culture Strategy that will provide a vision for modernising library service provision in the Borough but we are still waiting!”

Cllr Todd also pressed for the Council to initiate the purchase of social housing properties without delay and to eliminate the excessive number of void LBH properties and related 50% premium payment by LBH of Council Tax.

LBH has said it needs to save £59 million over the next four years and is imposing over £13 m worth of cutbacks in services.

Local councillors had also submitted amendments on the following issues.
. That Lampton 360 Ltd and its subsidiaries are wound up forthwith.
. That £200,000 be reserved for loans to Hounslow based SME’s in consultation with the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce.
. That Children’s Services be instructed to initiate the procurement of a Social Impact Bond to aid intervention and prevention and reduce the number of children in care and /or requiring fostering by delivery of improved services and support, delivery of better social outcomes, unlock better services for our residents and reduce the significant cost of this service.

All amendments put forward by the Chiswick councillors were defeated.

February 26, 2015