Liverpool City Council has taken action to prevent the accrual of further debt in relation to Breck Road library, operated by Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT).
The lease on the privately-owned building was transferred to AVCT in 2016, but they have failed to meet their legal obligation to pay the rent in full, despite being invoiced on a quarterly basis.
No payments were received at all in 2017, 2018, and none have been received for the last five years. In total, there is an outstanding debt of £82,500 in relation to the building.
Despite repeated requests over many months, AVCT have refused to enter into discussions with the council to come up with an affordable repayment plan.
As a result, to prevent further liabilities being accrued, the council has now activated a break clause in its head lease with the building’s owners and taken possession. It means AVCT are no longer be able to access the building and it is no longer open.
The council will end its interest in the site from mid-November.
Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation, Cllr Ruth Bennett, said: “We have been pursuing substantial debts owed by AVCT for many years.
“Regrettably, they have not taken up our offer to sit down and come up with an affordable repayment plan for the money they owe.
“Liverpool’s residents who pay their Council Tax expect everyone who owes money to settle what is owed.
“If we had not activated the break clause at Breck Road now, we could have been liable for the building’s costs for another three years.
“There are three council-run libraries within a two-mile radius of Breck Road, and people can also use our Home Library and e-reader services.
“We are committed to working with local residents over the coming months to work up plans to create a new community facility through the new Pride in Place funding that was announced recently by the Government.”
The library stock and furniture at Breck Road belongs to Liverpool City Council and will be redistributed around the council’s 14 other library sites.
Alternative library provision
The nearest LCC library sites to Breck Road are:
- Kensington Library (one mile)
- West Derby (1.7 miles)
- Spellow (1.8 miles)
A free home library service provides books and resources to residents who find it challenging to visit libraries in person due to illness, age or lack of physical mobility. Up to 25 books can be borrowed at a time with chosen items delivered to the resident’s home.
The Liverpool Library and Information Service also offers a range of e-Reading services that allow those who live, work or study in Liverpool to access free eBooks, audiobooks and magazines to download.
Digital access
If you require access to computers for accessing the internet and printing you can find a list of locations at https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/digital-inclusion.
Future library provision
A public consultation has recently taken place that will assist with setting a future as a direction for the library service to focus on maximising the impact of libraries, underpinning the neighbourhoods agenda, using buildings more effectively and reaching more of those who live, work and study in the city – especially those who need help the most.
We want to work with local residents in the coming months on plans to create a new community facility in the area through the new Pride in Place funding that was announced recently by the Government.
