The Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Monday 9th March 2026 was scheduled to consider a key decision regarding the Hornsey Library roof condition project. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items and the potential exclusion of the press and public for a specific exempt item.

Hornsey Library Roof Condition Project

A key decision was scheduled to be considered regarding the Hornsey Library Roof Condition Project, specifically seeking permission to initiate a tender action for a construction works contract. The report pack indicated that structural surveys had confirmed the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within the ceiling/roof areas of the double-height atrium on the western side of the library. This area is identified as the main library space. Due to significant safety concerns, it was recommended that the area below the RAAC panels be taken out of use immediately. A scaffold crash deck has been installed to protect the public and staff, and the proposal was to procure a contractor to undertake remediation works.

The report outlined that the recommended approach involves encapsulating the RAAC with a Metsec system, rather than a full roof replacement, which is considered a more cost-effective solution. This option was approved at the RIBA Stage 1 Gateway on 23rd April 2025. The project aims to identify and deliver a suitable solution for the RAAC with a minimum 30-year lifespan, ensuring it meets conservation approval and mitigates the impact on the library service and the wider community. The works are also constrained by a deadline of April 2027, as Hornsey Library is set to be used for the London Borough of Culture 2027.

The report also detailed alternative options considered, including doing nothing, which was discounted due to the safety and financial implications of an unsound roof and ongoing scaffold hire costs. An in-house option was also discounted due to a lack of available resources, specialist expertise, and qualifications. Inviting open tenders via Contracts Finder was considered too protracted, and using an alternative public sector dynamic purchasing system (DPS) was deemed not compliant with Contract Standing Orders (CSOs).

The project is expected to contribute to the Council's Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, specifically under the Resident Experience and enabling success outcome. It will also support the Borough's carbon reduction and climate change ambitions by preserving the existing solar photo voltaic (PV) panels installed in 2018, which will continue to generate electricity and offset the library's demand. The chosen option of upgrading the existing structure instead of replacing it avoids unnecessary waste.

The report also noted that the contractor will be obliged to have due regard for the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under the Equalities Act 2010, which aims to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and those who do not. The temporary closure of the library under the main roof for approximately 14 weeks was acknowledged as a necessary measure to undertake the works.

The meeting was also scheduled to consider an exempt item related to the Hornsey Library, which was likely to be subject to a motion to exclude the press and public due to containing exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972. This information related to the financial or business affairs of any particular person or could be subject to legal professional privilege.