Excerpt From Cabinet Minutes: 14th October

Thursday, 14th October, 2010 7.00 pm

Cabinet Minutes:

The Council received two petitions against the proposed closure of Baron’s Court Library. One with 2350 signatures and the other signed by 28 residents of North End House and West Kensington Court, W14. In addition, 8 students of Normand Croft Primary School also submitted letters asking for the library to remain open. The Petition prayer was:-

“H&F Council plan to close Barons Court Library, as part of its library strategy. We, the undersigned local residents and/or users of the library, wish to register our objection to this proposal, and the lack of a meaningful and transparent consultation process. We call upon H&F Council to:

(i)Find a strategy to keep our library open.

(ii) Consult in a meaningful and transparent manner with the local residents on any future proposals affecting the library”.

Patsy Heavey and Chris Johnston addressed Cabinet in support of the petition requesting for the library to stay open at its current purpose built location providing improved and value for money services. She also asked the Council to properly engage residents and services users in any future consultation.

In response, Councillor Smith agreed with the need to streamline backroom support and cut staffing costs while improving investment in library stock. Officers will look at the Hillingdon and Westminster models before a decision was made. The Leader stated that books had to be at the heart of the library. The Council was interested to note that Avonmore Primary School used it as its school library. He reiterated that the current high labour cost and low level of material investment model was not sustainable. A new operating model had to be found in order for the library to stay open.

Cabinet thanked Ms Heavey and Mr Johnston for taking their time to attend the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Officers undertake further research into the matter and report back to Cabinet as part of the Library Strategy review later in the year.

 Proposal to Cabinet

Full Cabinet Minutes

Save Sands End Campaign Council Meeting.

Picture from the F&H Cronicle, click to read full story

LETRA attended a full meeting of H&F Council last night in support of the Save Sands End Community Centre Action Group. The Full Council meeting was held at Fulham Town Hall in the Council Chamber.  Prior to the meeting over 40 protesters gathered outside the building, itself under threat of sale, for a friendly demo carrying placards with, 'Save Sands End,' 'Save Our Children's Services' and 'Save the Library.'  
 The Action Group had presented a petition with a historic number of 6900 signatories to the council and so were invited to speak at the meeting in the chamber. The petition requested that the Council “abandon its plans to sell the Sands End Community Centre which houses our library and community centre and reinvigorate the management of the centre to generate fuller use of its many facilities and thereby increase its value to the community and reduce its costs to the borough.”

 Their spokesperson, Nicholas Waldemar Brown, made a well argued speech for keeping the centre, highlighting the vital role it holds in the Sands End community. Providing a crucial library, top of the range adult classes, a well equipped gym and a number of other community services. Stating that the facilities had been run down and suffered from poor management practises that undermined the centres commercial potential, with the limited gym opening hours, being just one example of the lack entrepreneurial know-how. This from a business minded Conservative Council. They also put a number of pertinent questions to the the Council (see link below), but were rebuffed with councillors stating services would be relocated in the event of the centres closure.

 Following the presentation, a fierce debate took place between Labour and Conservative Councillors.  A member of the Conservative side even crossing the Chamber to argue heatedly face to face with a Labour councillor over a disputed amendment procedure. 
 Labour Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Stephen Cowan, urged the administration to 'listen to voters' citing the large turn out in the Chambers gallery and the record petition signed by many of its own supporters. He received loud applause from the gallery. 
 Conservative Councillor Greg Smith, stated both to petitioners and the Labour opposition speakers, that the consultation period is still open until November 11^th and no final decision will be taken until the end of this or early next year.

LETRA backs the Sands End Campaign and hopes they will be successful in saving the centre.

• Sands End Campaign Statement & Questions, from the agenda
• Full Meeting Agenda (PDF)
• Fulham Chronicle Report 
• Good piece in the Cowan Report

Council Meeting Fulham Town Hall Tomorrow, 27th October

The Campaign To Save Sands End Community Centre have been invited to give a presentation and ask questions at a full Council Meeting. The council will be presented with a petition of 6900 signatures supporting the centre The meeting is tomorrow, 27th October, and starts at 7.00pm in Fulham Town Hall ( Yes Fulham ). Cllr. Stephen Cowan, Labour Leader of the Opposition, has asked for it to be held in the Grand Hall, so all who want to attend can be accommodated. But first the campaigners are meeting outside the hall, from 6.20pm, to protest.  Everybody interested in hearing the case for saving Sands End Centre should try to be there.

•  Meeting Agenda
• Directions To Fulham Town Hall
• W14 Blog entry

Committee Meeting Thursday

There is a committee meeting this Thursday, 21^st October, starting at 7.30pm. All residents with issues concerning themselves or the estate are more than welcome to attend. The meeting takes place in the Residents Hall. Hope to see you there.

Sands End Community Centre Demo

The Campaign to Save Sands End Community Centre held a well attended demonstration today, with over 200 local residents gathering outside the building. Speakers urged H&F Council to think again about closing this valuable amenity for the area. The children from Langford Primary School joined the protest carrying placards stating 'Save Sands End' and ' Save our library,'  a brass band was on hand as the children sang to keep the centre open.  A petition with over 6000 local signatures, all from residents of the Sands End Ward, was handed over to Greg Hands the MP for the area. LETRA joined the protest, as it is linked to the Save Barons Court Library Campaign, and is hoping the council will listen to the residents and children’s desire to keep the centre open.

Langford School Pupils Singing ( worth hearing, even viewed sideways on)

• You Tube with a longer video of the children singing
• Fulham Chronicle Report 

Friday Sands End Protest Meeting

The campaign to save Sands End Community Centre are holding a protest meeting this Friday, 8^th October, from 11.00 am until 2pm. All those who use or are interested in trying to save the centre are welcome to join the meeting outside the building.

The campaign run by the group, have already been successful in a legal challenge to H&F Council, on the length of the consultation time with residents. The consultation period, concerning the centres future, has now been extended. ( See Chronicle article )

 W14 Sands End Blog