Purpose

Proposed decision:
 

-     
To consider and note the outcome of the public
consultation exercise

-     
To confirm the options that will not progress and
those that will be further explored relating to the town centre
Folkestone Library and Registration Service

-     
To confirm the nature of the temporary library and
Registration provision in Folkestone town centre which will remain
in place until a permanent provision is reinstated

-     
To confirm the next steps associated with the
options to be further explored, including those relating to future
of the Grace Hill building.

-     
To delegate necessary authority to relevant
Directors for Growth and Communities and Infrastructure ,in liaison
with  the Cabinet Member for Community
and Regulatory services and The Deputy Leader  and Cabinet Member Finance, Corporate and Traded
Services , to implement the decision as necessary from a service
and property perspective.
 
Reason for the decision
 

-     
A Key decision is needed to confirm which of the
options outlined in the consultation will be the subject of more
detailed exploration to determine the next steps in relation to the
future of the Grace Hill building and the future location of a town
centre Folkestone Library and Registration Service. The decision
will also confirm which options have been discounted. 

-     
A further key decision will be sought once this
further exploration is completed.

-     
Due to the condition of the Grace Hill building and
KCC’s financial position and the limitations on property
maintenance budgets, Folkestone Library has been temporarily closed
since December 2022 

-     
An 8-week public consultation has been
completed.

-     
Once all relevant information has been compiled it
is necessary for the Cabinet Member to take a decision on the
future of Folkestone Library and Registration Service in Folkestone
town centre and to delegate necessary authority to officers to
implement this decision.

-     
This will provide clarity on the Council’s
intentions for where Folkestone Library and Registration Service
will be delivered from within Folkestone town centre.

-     
The decision will include the appropriate delegation
to implement any decision including the property
aspects  
 
Background – Provide brief additional context
 

-     
The Libraries, Registration and Archives Service
(LRA) is a statutory and highly valued public service delivered
through a network of 99 libraries, five register offices; five
mobile libraries, an archive centre, the stock distribution and
support function building at Quarrywood, the information service -
‘Ask a Kent Librarian’ as well as the 24-hour
accessible online services.

-     
Folkestone Library is part of Kent’s statutory
library service.

-     
The temporary closure of the Grace Hill building in
December 2022 was on the basis of health and safety grounds. The
poor condition of the Grace Hill building has been exacerbated by
the listed nature of its construction which has led to complexities
to complete pro-active maintenance.

-     
The repairs needed to reopen Folkestone Library in
the Grace Hill building are now estimated to cost in the region of
£2.9 million. This figure was compiled by a KCC surveyor in
April 2024.KCC remains under significant
financial pressure.

-     
The building is listed as an Asset of Community
Value under the Localism Act 2011.
 
Options considered as part of the consultation
 
At the time of the
public consultation KCC put forward a preferred option that the
Library and Registration Service permanently move out of the Grace
Hill building and that it move to a new high street location with
the FOLCA project the preferred option, subject to further
discussions with Folkestone and Hythe District Council, or an
alternative town centre location.
 

-     
Below is a list of all other options outlined in the
consultation;

o  
Continue with temporary provision permanently and
exit the  Grace Hill
building.

o  
Make repairs to the Grace Hill building, re-open
Folkestone Library and co-locate with other
services.

o  
Relocate full library service to another existing
KCC building.

o  
Sell and then lease back part of the
building.

o  
Move service to an alternative leasehold
site
How the proposed decision supports the

Framing Kent's Future
- Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
 

-     
Consideration will be given to ensure we are meeting
KCC’s statutory duties

-     
Supporting Net Zero has will be a
consideration
 
How the
proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022
-2026:
Securing Kent’s
Future - Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf
 

-     
Financial factors are a key consideration of the
decision

-     
Consideration will need to be given to whether the
decision is compliant with the Strategic Statement in the context
of the significant financial challenges that the Council is
facing.

-     
Best Value considerations will be taken into
account.
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory
Services I agree to:
 
A)  
APPROVE to issue the draft consultation report set out in Appendix
B.
B)  
APPROVE to Issue the consultation response set out in Appendix
C.
C)  
Note that KCC remain committed to a full town centre library
provision in Folkestone Town Centre.
D)  
APPROVE that further work be undertaken to explore and implement an
alternative town centre location for the temporary library and
registration service, from which a greater range of services could
be delivered, within current budgets, until a permanent library and
registration service location is opened in the town centre.
E)  
APPROVE that the options for the future of the Grace Hill building
which involve KCC retaining responsibility for maintenance and
repair of the building, be discounted, acknowledging that this will
very likely require KCC to make a disposal of the building to a
third party (by way of freehold transfer or grant of a long lease),
and progress actions relating to its listing as an asset of
community value (ACV), including issuing a notice to Folkestone
& Hythe District Council of intention to dispose (Folkestone
& Hythe District Council being the statutory body that
administers the ACV process under the Localism Act 2011) This
notice will trigger the ACV process.
F)  
APPROVE that further work be undertaken on the two remaining
options, including further engagement with Creative Folkestone and,
if appropriate, other individuals or groups who may make proposals
for the Grace Hill building (including through the ACV
process).
G) 
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment
and Transport to issue the draft consultation responses
H)  
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment
and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet member for
Community and Regulatory Services to proceed with the work required
on the remaining two options, noting that these will be subject to
further governance and decision making
I)    
Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment
and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community
and Regulatory Services to take other relevant actions, including
but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into
required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to
implement the decision.
J)   
Delegate authority to the Director of Infrastructure in
consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance,
Corporate and Traded Services take other relevant actions,
including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering
into required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to
implement the decision.