Agenda item

A Member, representing Keats Community Library (KCL), asked to provide an update on the work of the Library. They informed other Members that the Library was preparing to be a ‘warm space’ for the winter. The Chair asked if there was adequate funding to allow for this, and suggested that the Library investigate the grants offered by City Bridge Trust for institutions offering this service.

The Member representing KCL informed the Committee that there had not been any progress on the maintenance issues they had raised at the previous meeting. They did not understand why nothing had happened. The Chair apologised that no action had been taken. Officers replied that they would raise this at their meeting with the City Surveyors team, and that a written update could be provided.

The Member representing KCL also informed the Committee that they had concerns over their licence to operate at 10 Keats House. Their licence had expired in April 2020, and since then KCL had paid for usage on a pro rata basis, based on the agreed licence fee. While KCL took comfort from reassurances from the City Corporation about the relationship, they felt that the City Corporation had not kept them adequately informed as to the progress of the new licence, and they found the current situation unacceptable and unprofessional.

Officers replied that meetings were ongoing to discuss the potential options for the renewal of the licence, but that final decisions would need to wait until Keats House had implemented any recommendations from the Corporate Charities Review. The Chair emphasised the importance of the relationship between Keats House and Keats Community Library.

In response to a question from a Member, officers confirmed that Keats House insured the whole building, while Keats Community Library was responsible for insuring their possessions, and that this was not affected by the lack of licence.