WALTHAMSTOW: Drug treatment centre off scrutiny agenda (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAMSTOW: Drug treatment centre off scrutiny agenda

3:56pm Wednesday 1st July 2009 in

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DISCUSSION of the controversial plans for a drug treatment centre in the former St James Street Library has been shelved.

The council's overview and scrutiny committee were to discuss the plans at a meeting tonight (Wednesday).

But the item has been removed from the agenda as the relevant report was not prepared in time, the Guardian understands.

The item has also been removed from next week's cabinet agenda as a result.

The decision will fuel speculation that the Labour group is worried about the consequences of forcing a vote through without the support of its Lib Dem cabinet colleagues.

Cllr Liaquat Ali, Labour member and High Street ward councillor, has previously pledged to oppose the drug centre plan.

But the Labour group needs Cllr Ali to vote for the plan at cabinet if it is to go through.

Plans to turn the library into a drug centre first emerged in February to the outrage of local residents.

The idea was scrapped after funding was withdrawn from the council's budget in March but was revived last month.

Newly elected council leader Cllr Chris Robbins has said the planned centre will be a "wonderful addition" to the community.

The Conservative group believes the building should be re-opened as a library, but accepts the need for an accessible site for a drug treatment centre.