A campaign stall was set up outside Manor House Library last Saturday to protest against the outsourcing of services and the forthcoming decision by Mayor and Cabinet as to its future.
The decision to hand the library over to a private company will most likely be approved next Wednesday. The company will be benefiting from what belongs the people of Lewisham, making a profit, while paying the Council a peppercorn rent. Meanwhile, our library service is downgraded.
Below you will find a letter sent from The Users and Friends of Manor House Library to the Mayor weeks ago outlining their concerns. They have yet to receive a reply. Perhaps he is too busy fending questions from the public and media regarding the rather dodgy Millwall housing development...
Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham 24th January
2017
Mayor’s Office,
Civic Suite,
Lewisham Town Hall, Catford,
London SE6 4RU
Dear Mayor Bullock,
Thank you for your letter dated 11th January 2017
relating to Council budgets, Council funding, Income & Spend and Central
Government’s spending assessment. We
appreciate the gravity of the overall situation.
However, in relation to the Library & Information
Service, downsizing to a “preferred model” system of “Community Libraries” we
have to ask where is the value for money and where is the provision of a decent
Service?
We know this is not what Lewisham’s public library customers
are experiencing.
The Interim Management provision for Manor House Library has
flagged up a regular occurrence of machinery breakdown – yesterday, a fault
arose with the heating boiler such that the Children’s Centre in the basement was
unable to heat the space. Regular
breakdowns with the Self Issue Self Return machines occur as do the on-line
facilities. And the breakdown in lights continue apace.
The customer is unable to pay for regular library services
such as fines, reservation fees, and is unable to use a pay-only
photocopier/printer as there is no facility for payment for any of these services.
Furthermore, there is the ridiculous system that reserved
books/media are unable to be collected by the customer at Manor House Library who
is thus obliged to collect the item at The Age Exchange branch in Blackheath or
at Lewisham Central Library (whichever is the nearest for the customer.)
Under these conditions, is it any wonder users would be
discouraged from using the Manor House Library thus contributing to the idea
that nobody uses libraries any longer. Is this the reason our request for
up-to-date CIPFA statistics from January 2015 have been officially refused by
the Library and Information department?.
In fact, Manor House Library is not, and has not since 21st
October 2016 operated as a functioning Library and Information Service outlet. Frankly, it discourages users and even deters
some laptop computer owners because of its weak Wi-Fi links!
In terms of the anticipated transfer of responsibilities to
the incoming ‘Host Partner’ who may engage a volunteer force to work the
library space, will these people be required to undergo DBS checks? We understand that paid Public Library Staff
are not required to undergo these checks.
This was an issue that both Cllr Mallory and yourself were surprised to
learn. Has any form of clarification been
sought? Patricia asked Ms Buckton about
this at our meeting on 10/12/2016 at the Manor House and was assured the
council would take responsibility for this.
Is this the case?
We assume the Host/Partner will be required to provide the
volunteers with Induction training for all the aspects that may involve,
including Fire drills, Evacuation techniques, Health and Safety matters, and Public
Liability responsibilities as is required in good practice/management of Public
Spaces.
We have recently been made aware of the input of other money
from other departments to assist this kind of ‘outsourcing’ of once-public
services. So-called “Small Grants” and
other ‘free rides’ have been provided for some Community Library management organisations. As for the internal structural damage
highlighted by The Pinnacle Report this is intended to be rectified by the
Host/Partner. It is hoped the selected Host/Partner is able to fund these
requirements.
However, we refer to the Pinnacle Report; Introduction, (p2
of 12) in particular paragraphs 7 and 8 which although advisory are pertinent
to the long-term sustainability of such a valuable Grade 2-star listed
building. Did any of the prospective
Host/Partners understand this responsibility or were they blinded by the
comfort of a rent-free Grade 2-star-listed building and a Business Rate holiday
until May 2018? We have just discovered,
today in fact, that the Council has employed a company to be responsible for
various works. Will this be another cost
to tax-payers, in spite of the building not being managed by the Council?
A great deal of public money was invested in the building,
as you yourself remarked. Is this
investment now to benefit a private company?
Yours sincerely,
Patricia and Peter Richardson.
Cc Heidi Alexander
M.P.
