Following the Council's decision to close the local library at the Mayflower Road site, we have negotiated a temporary solution, i.e. the mobile library.
From Friday, 17 June, the mobile library will stop at the car park of All Saints Church, Drake Road, between 2.30pm and 3.40pm.
Although the library at the school closed on Friday, 26 May, the council needs to inform customers currently using that mobile library slot that their service is changing.
We do not accept this as a long term solution and we will continue campaigning to get the library reinstated.
The purpose of this personal blogsite is to pass Ward or Thurrock related information across, and to allow residents comment on plans or proposals. Residents suggestions for developments in the community are certainly very welcome.
Showing posts with label Library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Library. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Monday, 2 May 2011
Chafford Hundred Library
Dear Residents
I have received a few queries about Chafford Hundred Library recently.
You will recall that the Council decided to reduce the opening hours of the library last year, and now, I understand that the Governing Body of Campus have decided to review the use of the space due to the reduced public access.
I have asked the Library Officers to let me know what they are planning to do to ensure that Chafford residents have the use of a library as previously promised.
I will update via this site once I have more information.
Cllr Tunde
I have received a few queries about Chafford Hundred Library recently.
You will recall that the Council decided to reduce the opening hours of the library last year, and now, I understand that the Governing Body of Campus have decided to review the use of the space due to the reduced public access.
I have asked the Library Officers to let me know what they are planning to do to ensure that Chafford residents have the use of a library as previously promised.
I will update via this site once I have more information.
Cllr Tunde
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Chafford Library Update
Dear Residents:
As you will note from the report from the Gazette below, the alternatives we put to full Council yesterday includes the proposal to Save Chafford Library.
NB - I have also asked for a 5% reduction in my allowances and the withdrawal of the broadband allowance I receive.
From the Gazette:
REDUCING councillor allowances by five per cent and turning off traffic lights overnight are two alternative budget proposals from Thurrock’s Conservative Group.
Thurrock Council’s supplementary budget to save £4 million this year was approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday night, subject to the Labour group’s agreement that Tory alternatives totalling £220,000 would be considered.
The alternative list of proposals was circulated at the meeting.
Tory leader Garry Hague called for the proposed cuts to environmental, safety and community facilities to be abandoned and an alternative range of savings totalling the same considered.
Cllr Hague said: “We recognise the necessity for the council to make additional budget savings, to a large extent as a result of the previous government’s mis-management of the economy.
“We also recognise that this needs to be done at a pace to ensure that early action is taken to implement these savings to the council’s budget this year.
“However, we are very concerned that a number of the savings proposals being progressed by Labour have not been properly thought through and will result in cuts to key services and community facilities that many of our residents value highly...to say their approach to setting the budget has been haphazard, is being generous.”
The top four cuts the Tory group want abandoned are- the reduction in street lighting saving £100,000, reduction in street cleaning and cleanliness saving £75,000, locking parks and cemeteries saving £10,000 and closing Chafford Hundred Library saving another £10,000.
These have been replaced by reducing councillor allowances by five per cent saving £15,000, reducing street lighting by 50 per cent and switching off traffic lights overnight saving £55,000, stopping payment for councillor’s broadband saving £5,000 and stopping paying councillors for car mileage within Thurrock saving £1,000.
Leader of the council John Kent added: “Cllr Hague we will give serious consideration to these proposals.”
Tory councillors Rob Gledhill, Lynn Carr, Amanda Wilton, Barry Johnson and Amanda Arnold have all put their support being the five per cent pay cut for councillors and ceased their claims for broadband expenses until the situation is reviewed again.
A report of the final budget proposals will be brought back to cabinet on August 11.
As you will note from the report from the Gazette below, the alternatives we put to full Council yesterday includes the proposal to Save Chafford Library.
NB - I have also asked for a 5% reduction in my allowances and the withdrawal of the broadband allowance I receive.
From the Gazette:
REDUCING councillor allowances by five per cent and turning off traffic lights overnight are two alternative budget proposals from Thurrock’s Conservative Group.
Thurrock Council’s supplementary budget to save £4 million this year was approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday night, subject to the Labour group’s agreement that Tory alternatives totalling £220,000 would be considered.
The alternative list of proposals was circulated at the meeting.
Tory leader Garry Hague called for the proposed cuts to environmental, safety and community facilities to be abandoned and an alternative range of savings totalling the same considered.
Cllr Hague said: “We recognise the necessity for the council to make additional budget savings, to a large extent as a result of the previous government’s mis-management of the economy.
“We also recognise that this needs to be done at a pace to ensure that early action is taken to implement these savings to the council’s budget this year.
“However, we are very concerned that a number of the savings proposals being progressed by Labour have not been properly thought through and will result in cuts to key services and community facilities that many of our residents value highly...to say their approach to setting the budget has been haphazard, is being generous.”
The top four cuts the Tory group want abandoned are- the reduction in street lighting saving £100,000, reduction in street cleaning and cleanliness saving £75,000, locking parks and cemeteries saving £10,000 and closing Chafford Hundred Library saving another £10,000.
These have been replaced by reducing councillor allowances by five per cent saving £15,000, reducing street lighting by 50 per cent and switching off traffic lights overnight saving £55,000, stopping payment for councillor’s broadband saving £5,000 and stopping paying councillors for car mileage within Thurrock saving £1,000.
Leader of the council John Kent added: “Cllr Hague we will give serious consideration to these proposals.”
Tory councillors Rob Gledhill, Lynn Carr, Amanda Wilton, Barry Johnson and Amanda Arnold have all put their support being the five per cent pay cut for councillors and ceased their claims for broadband expenses until the situation is reviewed again.
A report of the final budget proposals will be brought back to cabinet on August 11.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Chafford Hundred library remains open...ish
For those who were not at the meeting yesterday...
The Council have now changed their plans after protests from Residents, Councillors and library staff.
The Cabinet member conceded that numerous people had contacted her over the past few days, prior to the final decision.
She said: "I therefore propose that, while Chafford Hundred Library will not remain open as a full time public library, it will continue to serve as a public library for three half-day sessions a week.”
As stated at the meeting, I welcome the amendment, as there will still be a public Library located in Chafford. The way forward is now for all the Library users to work together to see how we can ensure the best future for the Library.
I want to thank Reena, Farida, John and all the dozens of residents who attended the meeting with their children.
I also want to appreciate the 500 people who signed the petition in a very short space of time, it shows how concerned the public of Chafford are about this issue.
Please contact me: tojetola@thurrock.gov.uk with your views.
Below is an extract of the new arrangement:
The Council have now changed their plans after protests from Residents, Councillors and library staff.
The Cabinet member conceded that numerous people had contacted her over the past few days, prior to the final decision.
She said: "I therefore propose that, while Chafford Hundred Library will not remain open as a full time public library, it will continue to serve as a public library for three half-day sessions a week.”
As stated at the meeting, I welcome the amendment, as there will still be a public Library located in Chafford. The way forward is now for all the Library users to work together to see how we can ensure the best future for the Library.
I want to thank Reena, Farida, John and all the dozens of residents who attended the meeting with their children.
I also want to appreciate the 500 people who signed the petition in a very short space of time, it shows how concerned the public of Chafford are about this issue.
Please contact me: tojetola@thurrock.gov.uk with your views.
Below is an extract of the new arrangement:
- Chafford Hundred Library will continue to serve as a public library for 3 half-day sessions a week.
- No proposal on which sessions the library should remain open for.
- Library staff to consult with users to identify which three 4 or 5 hour slots each week would be the most convenient for as many customers as possible.
- New arrangement to begin around Nov/December.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Say NO to Chafford Library Closure - Click here for petition
CHAFFORD Hundred councillors have fought back at Labour proposals to close their library.
The Labour administration are proposing to close the library and save £10,000 this financial year.
All the Conservative ward councillors in Chafford Hundred- Tunde Ojetola, Steve Veryard, Garry Hague and Neil Rockliffe have expressed concerns.
Ward councillor for South Chafford, cllr Ojetola said: “Because the Chafford Hundred library is jointly funded by the schools and the council, if the council withdraw the £60,000 spent on the library each year, both the campus and primary school may not be able to maintain it and therefore its future could be at risk.”
According to cllr Ojetola many residents have contacted them about the proposed withdrawal of council funding of at the library.
He added: “We are aware that the council has to review all aspects of the budget, but we are quite concerned about the proposal to withdraw all the funding.”
Cllr Ojetola explained the “multi-purpose building” is mainly used by Chafford primary and secondary school children, Chafford Hundred residents and children from others schools in the area.
According to the councillors a recent Freedom of Information request shows that the Chafford Hundred library in Mayflower Road is the third most used library in Thurrock with 91,000 visits last year alone.
Cllr Ojetola added: “Our mains concerns are has the full effects if the library is closed been considered? Will the schools be able to support the library staying open or will it totally close? Children are being encouraged to read, where is the council proposing lessons are carried out?
“And have the council looked at alternative forms of working- like closing it for one day a week or reducing opening hours? What is going to happen to the staff and where is the consultation?
“We all agree that the council has to reconsider its budget, but we are asking the council to review this proposal so that the library can remain open.”
The Labour administration are proposing to close the library and save £10,000 this financial year.
All the Conservative ward councillors in Chafford Hundred- Tunde Ojetola, Steve Veryard, Garry Hague and Neil Rockliffe have expressed concerns.
Ward councillor for South Chafford, cllr Ojetola said: “Because the Chafford Hundred library is jointly funded by the schools and the council, if the council withdraw the £60,000 spent on the library each year, both the campus and primary school may not be able to maintain it and therefore its future could be at risk.”
According to cllr Ojetola many residents have contacted them about the proposed withdrawal of council funding of at the library.
He added: “We are aware that the council has to review all aspects of the budget, but we are quite concerned about the proposal to withdraw all the funding.”
Cllr Ojetola explained the “multi-purpose building” is mainly used by Chafford primary and secondary school children, Chafford Hundred residents and children from others schools in the area.
According to the councillors a recent Freedom of Information request shows that the Chafford Hundred library in Mayflower Road is the third most used library in Thurrock with 91,000 visits last year alone.
Cllr Ojetola added: “Our mains concerns are has the full effects if the library is closed been considered? Will the schools be able to support the library staying open or will it totally close? Children are being encouraged to read, where is the council proposing lessons are carried out?
“And have the council looked at alternative forms of working- like closing it for one day a week or reducing opening hours? What is going to happen to the staff and where is the consultation?
“We all agree that the council has to reconsider its budget, but we are asking the council to review this proposal so that the library can remain open.”
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