Decision

Report Title: Comments of Overview and
Scrutiny Board on Requisition of Cabinet Decision -  Future Proposals for Former Library
Premises
 
Presented by: Councillor Julie Wilkes
– Deputy Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Board.
 
Response from: Councillor Graham
Williamson, Lead Member for Development & Regeneration
 
Following the call-in considered by Overview
and Scrutiny Committee on the 8th January 2026 and after
consideration of the comments made, Cabinet have clarified the
recommendations made in the report for transparency:
 
Cabinet are asked the following:
 
Former Gidea Park Library site:
 
Approve in principle the re-purposing of the
former Gidea Park Library site for the development of a 6-person
accommodation facility for children with disabilities, subject to a
separate business case being submitted to and agreed by
Cabinet.
 
Endorse a request for capital budget in the
sum of £120,000 to be included in the 2026/27 capital
programme and approve the submission of any related planning
application for the demolition of the former library building at
Gidea Park.  Agreed by
Cabinet
 
Former Harold Wood Library site:
 
Note the ongoing evaluation of the proposal
received from the Harold Wood Foundation in respect of the
temporary use of the former Harold Wood library premises including
the granting of a 7-year lease with a 3-year break-clause.
 
Note that any decision to be made in relation
to the further proposals for the former Harold Wood Library site
will be presented to a future Cabinet for decision.  Agreed by Cabinet
 
Former South Hornchurch Library site:
 
Agree to the disposal of the former South
Hornchurch library site, as identified in the red line plan shown
in Appendix A. Agreed by Cabinet
 
Instruct officers to report back to a future
Cabinet the outcome of the evaluation of the marketing of the site
and premises of the former South Hornchurch library site with
officer recommendations as to how achieve best value for the site
can be achieved. Agreed by Cabinet
 
Endorse a request for capital expenditure in
the sum of £110,000 and approve the submission of any related
planning application for the demolition of the former library
building at South Hornchurch. – the final decision to
demolish will be subject to the decision by Cabinet detailed above.
Agreed by Cabinet
 
 
 
 
 
Delegate authority to the Assistant Director
of Regeneration & Place Shaping, in consultation with the
relevant Cabinet Member, Section 151 officer and Deputy Director of
Legal and Democratic Services to conduct all appropriate steps to
progress the recommendations above. Agreed by Cabinet