Issue - meetings

This report presents Cabinet with a business case for investment to upgrade the premises and facilities at Kilburn Library and the Library Garden.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the proposals to redevelop the library for reasons detailed in section 3.1 of the report.

(2)    To approve the project budget of £765k which would be funded by £231k from Arts Council England Grant and £534k from SCIL as outlined in section 4.0 (Financial Implications) of the report.

(3)    To note that temporary facilities would be identified in the immediate locality while works are underway.

Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities & Culture) presented a report that detailed the business case for investment to upgrade the premises and facilities at Kilburn Library.

In introducing the report, members were advised of the alignment of the project with the Council’s core strategic objectives, Asset Management and the Library Service Action Plan with funding secured through a successful bid under the second round of the Arts Council England’s (ACE) ‘Library Improvement Fund’ programme. This had resulted in the award of £231,000 in February 2023, with members pleased to note this had been matched with an additional allocation of £534,000 funded through the Council’s Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) bringing the total budget allocated for the project to £765,000.

In welcoming the investment identified, members recognised the current poor state of repair of the existing facilities with the investment designed to ensure these were fit for purpose and able to meet expanded service delivery and community use requirements in an accessible and energy efficient way.

In commending the refurbishment and development proposals, members were keen to highlight their support for the investment as a means of enhancing existing facilities and providing a more flexible, modern and accessible resource for community use, recognising the social value provided through the borough’s libraries.  Members also welcomed the use of SCIL funding given the level of support this investment would provide towards development and growth across the area and recognising the continued benefits identified through this type of financial contribution to support local community use, growth and development.  As a final contribution Councillor Nerva, as a ward councillor for Queens Park, also commended the investment and refurbishment proposals highlighting how well used the existing facility were.  Support was also expressed for the proposed investment in the garden, given the associated environmental and health and wellbeing benefits identified, in order to ensure a sustainable arrangement working with the local community for its future use.

Having considered the report Cabinet therefore RESOLVED:

(1)           To note the proposals to redevelop the library for reasons detailed in section 3.1 of the report.

(2)           To approve the project budget of £765k which would be funded by £231k from Arts Council England Grant and £534k from SCIL, on the basis outlined in section 4 of the report

(3)           To note that temporary facilities would be identified in the immediate locality while works were underway.