CHATTERBOX - Lochwinnoch Online

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THE STIRRUP CUP Council Cuts: What Happened Next WEST BANKSIDE FARM, GEIRSTON RD, KILBIRNIE, We specialise in vintage & modern jewellery, antiques, curios, art and local crafts Great for Gifts or treat yourself As outlined in November's Chatterbox, Renfrewshire Council (RC) is planning to dispose of 25 properties including the Lochwinnoch Annexe and to downsize the Library, move it to the McKillop Institute and sell the library building for development. The Community Council held a meeting on Wednesday 3rd November with over 200 (angry) villagers, council officers and 3 local Councillors (D. Arthur, B. McFee and N. Bibby). A number of people having read the Council Planning Department's report voiced that they considered it not fit for purpose. The discussion led by the Chair split into two parts: First the plans for the Annexe; Second the plans for the Library service and Library building. The Council representatives outlined the background for the report: that an asset management review was tasked with reducing the ongoing cost of council assets to make financial savings. A budget reduction of £75 million (total) is expected over the next 3 years and difficult decisions must be made to achieve the necessary savings. Annexe – the building is falling into disrepair and highlighted by the Council as an asset for disposal. The income of around £5k per annum is far outweighed by the upkeep costs. It could be available for local community or private management but unlike previous community management models in Renfrewshire any new management takeover would take responsibility for the full costs of the building. In previous lease schemes the council maintained responsibility for the fabric of the building and for utilities and Council Tax.. Formed in 2006, LAMP is made up of Annexe users, LMEG, and Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. They had such a community management plan negotiated with the Council back in 2006 but the plan was dropped by the Council and they have had no contact since then. Anne Moss (from LAMP) outlined the plan, invited the Council to enter into discussion again and expressed disappointment and surprise that there had been no discussion prior to the bombshell report. The Council reemphasised that any management plan would need to be renegotiated under the new conditions. The new management would be responsible for 100% of all costs. If there is no community or private management plan forthcoming (and the Council agreed it is unlikely any private organisation would be interested) then the Annexe will be demolished. Library - the proposal is to relocate the Library (from a sound building of good quality) at a cost of £80,000 to a much smaller space in the McKillop, to save a recurring cost of £15,000 a year. To financially sophisticated residents, including accountants, this seemed like a questionable money saving scheme. Many asked for clarification but that was not forthcoming. Assurances were made that the Library service would be retained to the best of their ability. PCs would be provided, the stock would be mainly paperback but other stock could be ordered and no reservation fee would be imposed. The general tone of the discussion was that the Library should remain in the Library. Save the £80,000 and if savings in running costs have to be made then 14 Antiques, Curios and Crafts A dynamic selection of oils, watercolours and Limited Edition prints Bespoke crafts by local artisans, vintage and contemporary jewellery Well worth discovering for yourself The Barn on the farm, open 10am till late every day Contact Greta Logan on Tel: 01505 683338 Email: greta@thestirrupcup.com www.thestirrupcup.co.uk West Bankside Farm, Geirston Rd, Kilbirnie, KA25 7LQ CHRISTMAS EVENT Just opposite the Golf Course on the Largs Rd As part of our Christmas celebrations this year, our customers will be offered ginger wine and shortbread from the 20th November. Come along for a browse in your local antiques, curios, crafts and jewellery shop at ‘the barn on the farm’ A free Christmas tea light and glass holder with every purchase. explore additional uses of the building. The building does have space and there is potential to expand it's role and defray running costs. The point was also made that if Renfrewshire were to allocate Library services in a less Paisley-centric fashion, then savings could be made. Lochwinnoch Library is the 7th busiest in the council area despite its reduced opening hours (almost half of some other libraries) and small population. To accommodate the Library in the McKillop the Out of School Club (LOSC) have to be displaced. They been given assurances that they will be relocated to the school and have space for their current 30 places. The school board forwarded concerns from the Head Teacher that it was felt that the LOSC should not be located in the school. Children needed to leave school at the end of the day and needed a space where they could have ownership, display artwork, be 'out of school'. However, the Council representatives made the point that other Out of School Clubs are located in Schools. General concerns about the decisionmaking process were voiced. That the report is not fit for purpose was repeated, options are not well thought out, alternative proposals have not been explored, and consultation should take place before the decision and not after. It was also voiced that the Library building was gifted to the community by Colonel McDowall and that the Council did not have a moral right to offload it and strip the asset. The meeting voted unanimously to oppose the proposals and for the Community Council to write to Renfrewshire Council that day and ask for any decision to be delayed for at least 3 months to allow for
consultation and community response. The report was presented to Renfrewshire Council (RC) on Thursday 4th November and was approved by 21 votes to 14. Councillors Arthur and McFee voted for the report Councillor Bibby against. On Tuesday 16th November the Community Council organised a further well-attended action meeting. It was decided that the Community Council would take up the lack of consultation (and any legal consequences) with the Council and an action group should be formed. An action group (LAAAG) was formed consisting of a group of people willing to commit significant amounts of time and a larger supporters network who will commit skills and resources as and when they can/are needed. Rev. Christine Murdoch offered her support as well as that of Rev Archie Ford and offered the use of her church for meetings. On Wednesday 17th November RC invited Annexe users to a private meeting to discuss the Annexe future. Attendees included users, Liz Jamieson and team members from RC, 2 from Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company and Councillor Arthur. RC presented the statistics underpinning the disposal decision and invited comments. RC will work with interested parties to transfer the Annexe to community organisations at a peppercorn rent but then the community would be responsible for ALL running costs and maintenance. Any interested parties should contact RC before the end of December and business plans be submitted by the end of February 2011. If the Annexe is demolished RC will try to accommodate community groups (but not businesses) elsewhere but don't guarantee that will be in Lochwinnoch. There is some understanding of the importance of Calderglen football club and changing facilities of some kind would be provided. Saturday 20th November the Library and Annex Action Group (LAAAG) Dave Mellor, Chair, had its first meeting at the Parish Church courtesy of Rev. Murdoch. Various actions were initiated: demo at library; uncovering history of library; financial analysis; building analysis; information gathering. Saturday 10am meetings will continue on a weekly basis till further notice. All welcome. Wednesday 24th November RC invited Library users to a meeting to discuss the "new" library. The meeting was attended by Liz Jamieson, and managers from Library Services, Leisure, Property and from Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company. The meeting was not as well attended as might have been expected as some people believe that attending such a meeting gives it tacit approval. There were the usual statistics which were shown to be selected with bias (not adjusted for opening hours or population). A preliminary architects plan was shown although it was emphasised this may not be the final outcome. It is clear there is some understanding that the proposed space is too small as there was much talk about Wi-Fi and laptops that could be used "anywhere in the building, for example, the bar area that is under-utilised". There was a suggestion that the opening hours might be changed, especially after someone pointed out that having a library next to a Ceilidh isn't the best idea – the solution seemed to be less evening opening. Soundproofing may help but this must be done within the existing budget – what impact that would have was not discussed. There was reassurance that a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles would be available, these will be mainly paperback. Local history books will be retained. A direct question as to just how 15 A few Library Facts Lochwinnoch library is: 7th busiest in the Renfrewshire Council area is twice as busy, per head of population, as the average Renfrewshire library The Library building was established in 1857 by Colonel Day Hort Macdowall as the Lochwinnoch Female School of Industry. many books would be provided was unanswered as "we don't know - it depends on the layout". As there will certainly be fewer books from which to choose, the online catalogue will become more necessary and users were assured that they would be taught to use it and book reservations will be free. A tea/coffee machine may be provided. There will be further focus group meetings and people can register interest at the Library. The plans for the new library will be sent out to tender by the end of January and the library moved by end of June 2011. What Can You Do? If you are concerned about the recent developments then please help by contacting your local councillors, MSP and MP. The issues raised so far are: RC‘s complete lack of consultation with the community before making decisions; the poor quality of the report on which the decision was made (not fit for purpose); that our Councillors and the Council in general ignored Lochwinnoch Community Council‘s request to defer any decision for 3 months to allow for consultation; the biased presentation of data to purport to show a very successful library as failing (not correcting figures for population and opening hours); the presentation of notional cost savings when moving the library will incur the £80K cost mentioned plus significant additional costs (moving the Out of School Club) which have not been included; that Annexe users are not
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