DISCUSSIONS will get underway again in the new year to explore whether the running of Launceston’s library service could be devolved from Cornwall Council to the town council — and whether these services will be delivered from a different site to the current library building.

The leader of Cornwall Council, Adam Paynter, who is Liberal Democrat ward member for Launceston North and North Petherwin, attended the meeting of Launceston Town Council on December 19, where he gave an update on the latest ‘library position’.

Cllr Paynter said Cornwall Council was ‘keen’ to progress a feasibility study on the long-term future of both the Madford House and library site, Bounsalls Lane, including re-provision of a library service.

He said Launceston mayor Cllr Margaret Young had been ‘kind enough’ to apply for money from the One Public Estate (OPE) programme for this, but added: “Unfortunately we didn’t receive any funding for that. Across Cornwall we didn’t receive any funding at all.

“[Cornwall] Council remains committed to the study and decided to fund the study directly. I think it will take three months to complete from January.

“We would like the town council to help provide their input to the brief — and in particular what their measures of success look like.”

After the study, Cllr Paynter said he expects there to be a further three months of working through options and issues with the town council and other stakeholders, realistically meaning autumn for a Cabinet decision.

He added: “The aim is to find a means of developing the site in a way that funds refurbishment of Madford House or creates a new facility.” He said Cornwall Council ‘do not expect the library building has a life’ of longer than a few years.

“We will also aim to find an option that provides enough income from other uses to fund a library service,” he said.

“I can’t guarantee we will find a solution but we are committed to trying. We would appreciate a meeting with the mayor and clerk in the new year to see whether the town council would be happy to explore options.”

As Madford House is currently occupied, Cllr Paynter stressed Cornwall Council will work with the tenants.

He said on the library: “We would like to explore interim options, including the town council renting the library with a limited and capped liability for minor repairs, and Cornwall Council retaining the liability for significant issues — as with St Austell and Redruth.”

Cllr Young said a recent scheduled meeting about the future of the library was cancelled, but added in light of Cllr Paynter’s update, ‘now we can see a meeting is worthwhile and we can move forward’.

“That’s really good news that the county are putting some money in,” she told Cllr Paynter.

In 2016, the town council submitted a document to Cornwall Council listing the terms on which it would consider taking on the running of the library, but it is understood the local authority rejected the town council’s conditions.

The Post has previously reported in the spring of 2017 that the town council considered a paper presented by Cornwall Council regarding the devolution of the library service — at the time it was unanimously resolved that the town council ‘could not accept either of the two options presented’.

The town clerk Christopher Drake at the time said option one ‘was lacking in the necessary detail and the town council considered the financial burden and future financial implications unacceptable to the town’, and option two ‘was considered inadequate to meet the needs of the town and the surrounding area’.

Neither council released details of the options, but town councillor John Conway submitted a freedom of information request to Cornwall Council for the details of the options to be made public.

At the latest town council meeting, Cllr Conway renewed calls for this information to be made public.

He said to Cllr Paynter: “We had a proposal given to us from your council about the library. I have asked for freedom of information so people can see how poorly Launceston is being treated. They have refused to release it on various grounds. I’m asking you to release it.

“You wanted the savings and us to do all of the paying.”

Cllr Paynter replied: “There was a previous bid, we did discuss that at length with the town council. I’m quite happy to look at other deals that have happened around the county.

“It’s very difficult when you start comparing or trying to compare different sites. I think one of the problems with Launceston, the issue is the quality of the [library] building itself. As you know Launceston has got significant liabilities. That’s why we want to look at a different kind of provision. The current site really isn’t going to last that much longer.

“We need to move forward positively and find out what’s going to work. We need to move towards something that’s going to be sustainable.”

Cllr Brian Hogan said: “If you are going to open negotiations, let’s forget the historic past and start afresh.”

Cllr Young said: “We will report back when we have anything to say that’s productive, positive and available. 2018 will be a very productive year.”