Havering Council's full council meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, concluded without a decision on library redevelopment plans, as proposed amendments to a motion ultimately failed to pass. The meeting discussed the potential redevelopment of specific library sites, including Gidea Park, Harold Wood, and South Hornchurch libraries.
A motion, put forward by Councillor Keith Prince and seconded by Councillor Michael White, called for a pause on decisions concerning library closures and redevelopment, advocating for a thorough review and the development of alternative business plans. This motion was presented in the context of the council inheriting a very difficult financial position both from a revenue and a capital point of view,
according to Councillor Ray Morgon, necessitating very difficult savings and choices.
Two amendments to this motion were presented. The first, from the Conservative group and moved by Councillor David Taylor, sought to expedite redevelopment by requiring alternative business plans to be brought forward promptly. Councillor Taylor argued that a blanket delay would incur further costs and deterioration
and that mothballed sites incurring costs and they're not usable.
This amendment was defeated by a tied vote of 24-24, with the Mayor casting her vote against.
The second amendment, proposed by the Labour group and moved by Councillor Nisha Patel, called for a comprehensive plan to ensure library assets were reopened as libraries or used for public gain, with any financial gain reinvested as public assets. Councillor Patel emphasised the need for informed choices
and that every viable option for community use has been explored,
suggesting possibilities like community partnerships, shared use with voluntary organizations and new models that keeps these spaces active and serving local people.
This amendment also resulted in a tied vote of 24-24, with the Mayor voting against, meaning it was not carried.
Consequently, the original substantive motion was also not carried, with 24 votes to five and one abstention. This means no decision was made at this meeting on pausing or reviewing the library redevelopment plans. Councillors voting against the amendments and motion cited the council's inherited financial difficulties and the poor condition of many library buildings, which lacked previous funding streams for maintenance and repair. Councillor Gillian Ford noted that the council did inherit a lot of the buildings in a poor in a poor condition
and that the council do have to pay business rates staffing levels asbestos etc etc.
Regarding the specific sites, Councillor Gillian Ford stated that for South Hornchurch library, the proposal of the selling and disposal of that site is going to mean that the community center adjacent on the next piece of land to the library will be extended and expanded to absolutely provide that community space that people want that's what they asked for that's what they want and that's what we're delivering.
She also mentioned that the giddy park proposals as Councillor Wilkes has already said are currently being worked up
and that harold wood was the only one that came forward after the event so those discussions have been taking place with harold wood and those discussions do continue.
With the motion and amendments failing to pass, the original substantive motion was not carried, indicating that the proposed pause and review did not gain council approval. The Labour amendment's mention of after May 7th
suggests a potential point for reconsideration by a new administration, though no explicit future timeline was set by this meeting's outcome. The financial implications of the redevelopment, while not detailed in terms of specific figures, were framed by the need to address the council's difficult financial position and the costs of maintaining existing, often dilapidated, library buildings.