The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Notes that the Gidea Park library provides essential services to local communities; declares that their closure would have an adverse impact upon the local people, specifically the young and elderly; further declares that this library ought not to be closed by the London Borough of Havering; and further declares that community libraries should be protected and enhanced as vital centres of culture, learning, and local service provision by national and local government.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that the Gidea Park library in the parliamentary constituency of Romford is not closed, but rather protected and enhanced as a centre of culture, learning, and local service provision for the people of Gidea Park.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Andrew Rosindell, Official Report, 11 February 2025; Vol. 762, c. 230.]
[P003042]
Observations from the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism (Chris Bryant): The Government fully recognise the importance and value of public libraries for all members of the public. Libraries are a vital public resource, helping to inspire, educate, support and entertain people of all ages and backgrounds. The range of outcomes they help to achieve is substantial and varied, and the Government are therefore committed to ensuring that libraries continue to thrive.
The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 places a statutory duty on all local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for determining how best to meet the needs of its communities and deliver its statutory duties within available resources. Decisions on whether or not to make any changes to the statutory service, including decisions on library closures, therefore fall to the relevant local authority.
The Act also places a duty on the Secretary of State to superintend, and promote the improvement of, the public library service provided by local authorities in England and secure the proper discharge of the duties conferred on local authorities under the Act. To assist this function, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport regularly monitors and reviews changes to local authority library service provision, and engages with local authorities to discuss issues related to their respective statutory library service. However, the decision to close the Gidea Park library is a decision for Havering council, and it is not for DCMS to direct or instruct the council not to do so nor for DCMS to instruct the council to discontinue the implementation of its agreed plans.
Havering council undertook a 12-week public consultation (10 May 2024-2 August 2024) on a draft library strategy which included proposals to close four of its sites leaving six libraries in the borough. The council adopted a range of consultation methods to gather feedback from residents including: an online consultation, a hard copy paper version, 15 public meetings held across the entire library estate, as well as a consultation specifically designed for children and young people. We also understand that there were more than 4,500 responses to the consultation, including five petitions, two of which related to Gidea Park library and were raised by separate local councillors.
Havering cabinet agreed at its meeting on 5 February to close three of its libraries (Harold Wood, South Hornchurch and Gidea Park) with effect from 1 April 2025. Havering council say their proposals and decision were supported by a needs assessment as well as an equality impact assessment, which included a number of mitigations. DCMS officials discussed the proposals for changes to the statutory library service provision with Havering council officers and have reminded the council of its statutory duties.
The Act gives the Secretary of State the power to intervene if, having held a local inquiry, she is of the opinion that a local authority is failing to carry out its duty under the Act to deliver a “comprehensive and efficient” library service for library users. In those circumstances, the Secretary of State can make a remedial order requiring the local authority to remedy the breach. The Act provides that the local inquiry can be commenced either on receipt of a complaint or of the Secretary of State’s own motion.
Should residents consider Havering council to be in breach of their statutory duty set out in the Act then they can therefore complain directly to DCMS. The representations need to explain clearly and in detail what it is believed the impact of the agreed changes will be on users of the library service. DCMS will carefully consider any in order to decide whether to deal with them as a complaint within the scope of the legislation. Further information about this process can be found in this guidance document—“Libraries as a Statutory Service”—which can be found on gov.uk at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-libraries-as-a-statutory-service/libraries-as-a-statutory-service
DCMS will continue to monitor the council’s statutory library service provision.