New bid to run Sydenham Library emerges

[simon]

I was more than a little surprised to read in the South London Press that another bidder has emerged to run four of the five libraries, including Sydenham, that are to be closed from May 28.

I am surprised because there was a deadline of 20th January for organisations to submit an expression of interest and according to papers prepared for the Council meeting in February, Lewisham Community Sports did not express an interest. While their bid may well be a worthy one, it seems more than little unfair on bidders that have met deadlines that they now find themselves competing with bidders who have not done so.

Personally, from what I have read of their bid in the South London Press, it seems a little too child, opposed to community, focused. That they are asking Lewisham for “£236,000 to help it run the buildings until March 2012” seems a deal breaker to me as Lewisham could continue to rum them itself for less than that.

I am unable to attend the public meeting on Tuesday but I would be interested if anyone who attends could report on LCS’s bid. I would also like to know if Council officials or councillors can state that the deadlines for expressions of interest and bids were actually just guidelines and that organisations are free to make bids at any time, irrespective of any so called deadlines.

[marymck]

Hi Simon

Sadly, I can't attend the meeting either.

If I could, my question, for any bidder, would be: will we still be able to search for and order books via the inter library loan system? That, to me, is fundamental to any library.

[Tim Lund]

Well, I attended, but I can't say I came away that much the wiser.

This is the website for the new bidders http://www.wethink.me.uk/, and here's a links to the Companies House page for Lewisham Community Sports which is its 'strategic partner'

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/e8820 ... ompdetails

I have nothing to say against what these new bidders say they want to do, in particular I could live with the Sydenham Library building not being used exclusively as a library, or even not being principally a library as we know them. Unlike Lewisham People Before Profits, who were there in force, and whose leaflet from yesterday I reproduce below, I could accept, reluctantly, that some library staff will lose jobs, or end up in less secure jobs. But I do have my doubts about their ability to do what they say - although the same could be said of any of the bidders.

So like Lewisham People Before Profits, I would also like answers to their questions on financing and governance. I think the public has a right to know - otherwise these sort of consultation events risk disappointing the public who only see a fraction of the picture.

NO TO THE PRIVATISATION OF LEWISHAM'S LIBRARIES

The Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance and Lewisham People Before Profit are opposed to the privatisation of library services. We are also opposed to any changes that will lead to making librarians redundant or the worsening of their terms and conditions, and restrictions on library space and the availability of books. Lewisham Council has the responsibility to provide a publicly funded library service for local residents; making their survival dependent on the success or failure of businesses or charities is a risky move.

Our questions for the bidders are:

AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS
• How many books will there he?
• What hours will the library be open?
• Will there he any restrictions on the types of books that will he available?
• Will the space he used for other purposes, in addition to providing library service? If so then what? How much space will be left for an actual library?

STAFF
• Will the library continue to employ qualified librarians? If so, how many?
• Who will be their employer and how will their pay, terms and conditions compare to Council employees working at other libraries?
• Will unions be recognised?
• If there will be fewer qualified librarians than now, how many librarian, will he made redundant? • If the library is to be run by volunteers, then how to ensure consistent, reliable, quality service in the absence of of paid, qualified librarians?

FINANCING
• Who will own the lease and what. will he the duration of the lease?
• How will the library be financed (given that lending books is not a profitabIe activity)?
• Where is the cost/benefit analysis?
• Does the Council have any obligation to provide a library service if the business fails?

GOVERNANCE
• What will the governance structure he?
• How many community representatives will be on the board?
• How will these representatives be accountable to the community?
• W'hat decision-making authority will governors have?
• How will it be ensured that. the governors represent the diversity of the local community?

[simon]

Thanks Tim.
There is an overview of all the bids on the SLP site now: http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/89715 ... he_public/

[stuart]

This is the website for the new bidders http://www.wethink.me.uk/,

A bit worrying the website makes no attempt to fulfil its basic legal requirements - that is who operates it, address and other contact details. By rights Lewisham Trading Standards should closing it down rather than its parent considering partnership.

It was registered only on April 5th and the entry there is incomplete - the registrant (Chambers Toby) is 'unknown'. http://webwhois.nic.uk/cgi-bin/whois.cg ... hink.me.uk

That such an obtuse and apparently unprofessional outfit be seeking to taking share of an important community resource (and public money?) is worrying to me. But hopefully Council Officers & Councillors have done due diligence and can perhaps explain the conundrum?

Stuart