LAUNCESTON Town Council is to appoint a business consultancy to help it in considering the future of the town’s library.

The council had a meeting with consultancy Perfect Moment after approaching it to provide a quote for undertaking a review of its services. — around £11,000.

The consultancy would then provide an ‘options analysis’ of actions the council could take to improve the net financial position of the services, in order to facilitate taking over the library while minimising the impact on increasing the precept.

A final report from Perfect Moment would include the current full cost of running the library, tourist information centre, town hall and museum, and advice, such as any physical changes to buildings, which will increase operational efficiency, increase income generation and help deliver services.

The town council has been in discussion with Cornwall Council about the potential devolution of the library.

At a town council meeting last week mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said: “I know this council at the moment is considering taking on the library, which I feel is a step in the right direction.

“I feel we should look at all the possibilities and all the implications and based on a report from this gentleman [Perfect Moment consultant] we should make a constructive, sensible decision on the way forward.

“The library is a catalyst for us to look at all the services. It’s not really just about the library and that’s why we need some expert advice as to where we are going with it.”

It was said that the consultancy has worked with, or is currently working with, Truro City Council, and its clerk was pleased with the work.

Cllr Paul O’Brien said: “I think using external consultants is the right way to go. I welcome the opportunity to sit back and watch people of quality and knowledge. What do I know about designing a modern library? Very little indeed.

“Whilst it might seem a fairly substantial price to pay my bet is if you go to other firms, it’s certainly debatable you are going to get it a great deal cheaper.

“In view of the kind of issues we are talking about and things that may affect this town for 20, 30 or 40 years I think it’s a price worth paying.”

Town clerk Rita Skinner said the council had made savings ‘not anticipated’ that would ‘cover the cost’ of the consultants.

Cllr John Conway described the cost of appointing the consultancy to carry out the research as ‘exorbitant’.

“We haven’t made a decision yet whether to do it [take on the running of the library] and we have only gone as far as we have because we thought Cornwall Council was going to get rid of our library service.

“We do not, I believe, want to take it on. Its best place is with Cornwall Council. Cornwall Council have the legal responsibility to provide that library service.

“£11,000 is far too much for us to spend, especially on a library service we haven’t even decided we want to take on.”

He also said of the one stop shop service, currently provided from the library: “The one stop shop is Cornwall Council seeing its customers. It’s nothing to do with this council and if we take the library on we don’t want to know the one stop shop.

“It’s not up to this council to see someone else’s customers.”

Cllr Margaret Young disagreed: “What we were presented with was a good overall of the assets we have in the town and the way forward to use all the town’s assets to the best of our ability.

“People in the town do need a one stop shop. It’s a service that the town needs for people who sometimes are absolutely on their knees and need somebody for advice. We can’t ignore that service.”

Cllr Rob Tremain said: “These consultants are not just looking at the library, they are looking at the whole portfolio of property we deliver.

“My mind is open for the future of the town — not just this year’s budget but the time ahead.”

Cllr Roger Creagh-Osborne suggested, to sharp intakes of breath from some councillors, whether the multi-storey car park could ‘go up another one or two storeys’ in order to ‘combine car parking with a new library and office space’.

He added: “We are talking about something that could be good for the town for 30 or 40 years. It shouldn’t be ruled out. Any of the solutions that have been proposed so far seem to be unhappy compromises. I think we do need professional advice but let’s not restrict them in the advice they give.”

Cllr John Harris said he felt the council should ‘look at the long-term’: “We have got to live in the real world. Our mind should be open. If it comes to it that we have to take on a lot more services, and in some ways I think we should, we have got to pick up the baton and say we can do these things. Even something really radical.

“Pulling down the car park — maybe that will work. Maybe we should look at these things seriously.

“If it costs money to get expert opinion we should spend it.”

Cllr Conway suggested if they were given some of the car park land owned by Cornwall Council, a modern, purpose built library could be sited there: “The library building itself has been a white elephant since the day it was built. We know the building is not suitable for its purpose. There are other options.”

Cllr Dave Gordon suggested the council should seek alternative quotes: “I’m not against the library service being taken on but we need to think long and hard before we do and not be rushed into it. I think we need to get a second and possibly third quote on it.”

A vote was taken on whether to seek alternative quotes, which was tied, and Cllr Hogan with the casting vote decided against the proposal. The majority of councillors then voted in favour of going ahead with Perfect Moment’s research.