From: Roger Tichborne
Cc: cllr.a.campbell@barnet.gov.uk ;
cllr.a.cornelius@barnet.gov.uk
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Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: Proposal for Opening Friern
Barnet Peoples Library - Response to Richard Cornelius
Dear Councillor Cornelius
Thank you for your response.
Please let me deal with the points you raise in
order.
With regards to Big Society (and localism). The
concept David Cameron introduced as a central plank of the Conservative Election
strategy in 2010 was one where local communities developed ideas and local
authorities supported those communities. The idea that the state (in this case
Barnet Council) knows better than the people it serves is an anaethma to modern
Conservative thinking. Having implementented many sustainable projects, I
happen to know that the first thing required is to build up the expertise in
managing such an operation. The Peoples library offers this opportunity and will
allow the community to develop an organisational context within which to
develop. If the present building is sold off and a new venue arranged, then the
Peoples library will be able to hit the ground running with a team that knows
how to do the job. Sadly it seems that Barnet Council does not seem to
understand the benefits of gaining operational experience or good management
practise. Surely you can see the benefits of developing this as part of the
sustainability aspect of the scheme?
The Arts Depot facility is to be commended, but the
concept of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" cannot be. The capital receipts from the
sale of Friern Barnet are clearly not required to open a facility at the Arts
Depot, as this is being opened before the Capital receipts are received. I have
trouble with the concept of "Landmark" libraries. These have the ring of
grandiose schemes dreamed up by bureaucrats in Ivory towers. The people of
Friern did not want a Landmark library a mile and a half away, they wanted their
local library.
I must also mention that whilst many Friern Barnet
residents, especially young mothers with children will be hugely financially
penalised by the move. Wheras they can now walk to the local libary, they will
either have to go on the bus or pay a £2.00 parking charge, for their children
to visit the Arts depot library during the week. For many young families who are
strugging to make ends meet, a weekly visit to the library will now cost over
£100 a year in parking charges. Hardly inclusive, is it?
As to your comments regarding Councillor Robert
Rams. I was informed that a substancial amount of money is required to underpin
the structure of East Barnet Library. Your own Council officers told me this. If
this is not the case, please let me know and supply me with the budget for
maintenance and repairs of East Barnet Library for the next five years. I will
happily withdraw this claim, if it turns out I was mislead by Council officers.
I must add that I view retention of East Barnet library as just as important as
Friern and would support all efforts to retain the facility. My comments
mentioning that this Library was in Councillor Rams ward are merely a statement
of fact.
As to my "continued attacks" on Councillor Rams.
Councillor Rams holds the portfolio for Libraries. I have spoken to many people
all over the Borough who are unhappy with the way Councillor Rams has handled
his portfolio. The Save Friern Library campaign have claimed Councillor Rams
deliberately mislead them for a period of many months over his true intentions
for the building and this is backed up by documentary evidence and indeed his
own statements in Barnet Council chamber. There are many Conservative
Councillors who I hold in high esteem, however due to his behaviour, I believe
Councillor Robert Rams to hold the people in Barnet in contempt. I reserve the
right to speak of him accordingly. I do not believe that you can claim that the
closure of Friern Library has a democratic mandate, as it was not mentioned
anywhere in the Conservative manifesto, which you were elected on less than a
year before you announced the closure. I would contend that it is the exact
opposite, as your plans were deliberately concealed from the electorate. As you
were not leader at the time, clearly this is not your fault, but to claim a
democratic mandate is clearly very misleading.
You say that Barnet Council has repeatedly stated
its intent to work with the Friern Barnet Library group. This is not the case at
all. Barnet Council has proposed unsuitable venues and mislead the group as to
your plans. Friary House is not accesible to many people. Barnet Council know
of this unsuitability. It is in this context that talks have stalled. It
strikes me as disingenious to offer a completely unsuitable location. I am
rather surprised that you are happy to go along with this outrageous ruse.
As you acknowledge, I welcomed the general outline
of the Strategic Library Review. I think that Barnet Council produced a far
better plan than many of its neighbours for maintaining a system of libraries.
As such in March 2011, we wound down the campaign against Library closures. I
acknowledged that Barnet Council had listened to the 8,000 people who signed the
petition against the general closure program and commended them for this. I even
wrote a blog commending Councillor Rams for his volte face.
I became involved in the Save Friern Barnet
Campaign only recently, as a result of requests from local residents. They asked
me to, on the grounds that Barnet Council had mislead them. I attended a cabinet
meeting and experienced certain Councillors being extremely rude to and about
local residents. I was also filled in by many residents involved with the
campaign, just how badly let down they felt by the Council. I felt obligated to
try and help their campaign for a community hub in Friern Barnet. We initiated
the Peoples library on Saturday 14th April, to test the local need for such
facilities. Whilst I welcomed the initial announcement of the Strategic Library
review, it is clear that it's implementation under Councillor Rams has been
botched. It strikes me that Councillor Rams lacks the necessary management
skills to oversee such a project. I would be happy to offer Councillor Rams work
experience with my company, to help him develop the necessary people skills and
management skills to implement such programs in future. I think it is a shame
that so few modern politicians benefit from a business background which both you
and I share. Maybe you could do the same within your business. Young men such as
Rams clearly need wise heads to mentor them.
With regards to your comments about central
funding, of course Councils have challenges. It is your job as leader to address
them. I would suggest that there are many areas within Barnet Council which
could be managed more efficiently. One clear problem is purchasing, where
bloggers have exposed scandal after scandal costing the taxpayer millions. This
cash could easily have been used to keep Friern Library open, had proper
structures been in place.
As to your suggestion that I donate £500 towards the cost of books at the Arts Depot. Are you suggesting that the new landmark library lacks suffient funding to properly equip itself with books? If it does it can hardly be described as a landmark library.
A library with no books is just an empty building, rather like the Friern
Library. If you can confirm that the Arts Depot Library is underfunded and
requires a public subscription to properly equip it, I will happily donate £500
on the condition that you publicly support me and help me campaign in a borough
wide appeal for cash and books to make up for this shortfall. If you can provide
details of the shortfall and the cash requirement, I will put together a plan to
raise that from local residents and businesses.
I think that is a very fair offer. I look forward to your response.
Regards
Roger Tichborne
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