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

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