MILFORD HAVEN’S library remains under threat as Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) refuses to disclose the rent it pays to the Port of Milford Haven, despite repeated calls for transparency. During a Milford Haven Town Council (MHTC) meeting on Monday (Feb 10), councillors and residents pressed PCC’s Head of Cultural Services, Mike Cavanagh, for answers on the library’s financial future.

RENT SECRECY

At the meeting, Cllr Lee Bridges demanded to know how much PCC is paying the Port of Milford Haven to lease the library premises at the business park. However, Cavanagh refused to disclose the figure, stating that the Port had asked him not to make this information public.

“My hands are tied,” he said. “I cannot say what the figure is because I have been asked not to by the Port.”

“We are now taking advice from our legal department to see if we can tell you this”, he added.

The revelation has intensified concerns over the lack of transparency in the funding of a statutory public service. Residents and councillors alike questioned why the Port—a Trust Port with a duty to benefit the community—is charging an undisclosed rent for the town’s only library, while PCC claims it cannot afford to maintain the service.

PORT’S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES – HELPING THE COMMUNITY?

The Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) was established under the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1958 as a Trust Port, meaning that unlike private companies, it does not have shareholders and is instead supposed to operate for the long-term benefit of the local community.

According to Trust Port principles, the Port should reinvest its profits for the benefit of Milford Haven and its residents. Yet, the library—a statutory service used by hundreds of residents—is being charged rent that PCC says it can no longer afford.

In 2023, the Port achieved its highest-ever revenue, reaching £41.3 million, despite a decrease in ship calls and cargo volumes. The annual profit stood at £4.1 million. This financial growth is attributed to strong performances in cargo handling, property, hospitality, and tourism sectors.

Former Mayor Cllr Colin Sharp questioned whether the Port’s refusal to offer further reductions was compatible with its duty to support the town, saying:

“Have you spoken to the landlord? It’s going to look like very bad press for that company, which is allegedly a community organisation, if the library can no longer operate.”

In response, Cavanagh confirmed that PCC had asked the Port of Milford Haven for a further rent reduction or a community lease, but they declined.

However, Cllr Nicola Harteveld (Central Ward) defended the Port, saying:

“The Port are a business and can’t be expected to give the library to the town for free, as they already do a lot for the town.”

A STATUTORY DUTY – BUT WHO PAYS?

Under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, PCC has a statutory duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service for all residents who wish to use it. The law ensures that councils must not close libraries unless they can prove alternative arrangements will meet local needs.

Despite this, PCC has repeatedly reduced library funding in recent years, and Milford Haven Library is now at risk simply because it is in a rented building rather than a council-owned one.

Milford Haven Library remains the only library in Pembrokeshire housed in a rented building after PCC sold its original premises on Hamilton Terrace in 2009 for just £120,000. Since then, PCC has paid the Port of Milford Haven an annual lease—believed to be around £50,000 per year, although the exact figure remains unknown.

In 2018, the rent was renegotiated and reduced, but Cavanagh refused to say by how much.

Now, PCC says it is struggling to afford the cost of the library as it faces a £27.4 million budget deficit for the 2025-26 financial year. The library is under direct threat, with the council exploring alternative options, including:

• Relocating the library to a cheaper site, such as the Meads Leisure Centre
• Transitioning it into a Community Managed Partnership
• Receiving financial support from Milford Haven Town Council

TOWN HALL COULD OFFER A SOLUTION

During the meeting, Cllr Lee Bridges proposed an alternative location for the library to save costs, suggesting that the new owner of Milford Haven Town Hall, local accountant Bruce Evens, may be open to renting space back to PCC.

“The old Town Hall is in the centre of town, and the Murray Suite on the ground floor is not being fully utilised,” Cllr Bridges said. “I know that Mr Evens is a very community-minded man, and I am sure that he would rent back the space to PCC so that the library can be relocated. He has a keen interest in the town and will be willing, I feel, to invest back into the community.”

Cavanagh responded that all options were on the table and that nothing had been decided yet, stating that the council would listen to the public consultation results before making a final decision.

COUNCIL PRESSURED TO FUND LIBRARY

Cavanagh told MHTC that he had narrowed the budget shortfall for the library from £50,000 to £13,000. He then asked MHTC to contribute £13,000 to keep the library open for another year, claiming that Milford Haven was one of only three towns in Pembrokeshire not contributing to their libraries.

“If the town council agrees to fund £13,000, I will give the library all the protection that I can,” Cavanagh said—leading to accusations that PCC is coercing MHTC into taking responsibility for a statutory service it should be funding itself.

Councillor William Elliott thanked Cavanagh for his presentation and confirmed that MHTC would make a final decision on February 24 regarding financial support for the library.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

With MHTC set to vote on funding the library on February 24, the future of the service remains uncertain. If the town council refuses to pay the £13,000, PCC may push ahead with relocation or cuts, potentially reducing services in Milford Haven.

Meanwhile, the Port of Milford Haven’s refusal to disclose its rental charges has sparked renewed calls for transparency, with campaigners considering a Freedom of Information request to uncover how much public money has been spent on rent since 2009.

The public consultation on the library service remains open until February 17, with residents urged to make their views known before the final decision is made.

This is a developing story. The Herald will continue to report on new developments.