LAUNCESTON Town Council said it is willing to enter into negotiations with Cornwall Council over the future of the library as long as terms and conditions are fair and reasonable — ‘especially in relation to funding’.

There is the potential for the running of Launceston library to be devolved from Cornwall Council to the town council.

Town councillors at their meeting last week, Tuesday, June 21, agreed to submit a document to Cornwall Council, prepared by the town clerk, which lists the terms on which they would consider taking on the running of the library.

This document states: “A small, rural town such as Launceston has just as much right to support from Cornwall Council as one of the larger, more glamorous towns such as Truro or Falmouth.”

The terms include the freehold of the town’s Walkhouse car park to be passed to the town council, so the income from the car park can support revenue expenditure for the library and associated services.

Other terms listed were the freehold of the library building being passed on to the town council, 100% of any sale of the land to be retained by the town council provided it was used to provide a new library on any suitable site, and the sum of £52,500 to be passed to the town council, to be used for repairs and maintenance, or the sum idenitifed by a building survey due to be carried out — whichever is greater.

The town council said it would offer free accommodation to the Registration Service and that any income generated by the library would be retained, including any income from fines.

The document, which was agreed to be submitted to Cornwall Council, states: “The town council has approached this issue with an open mind, but our expression of interest has always been dependent on Cornwall Council giving substantial financial and in-kind support.

“The town council wants the library and associated services to continue to be provided in Launceston and is willing to enter negotiations with Cornwall Council to work together to this end.

“The terms and conditions must be fair and reasonable. By this we mean fair to all towns across Cornwall, in particular in relation to funding.”

The document also states there were more than 89,000 library loans in 2013/14 and more than 70,000 visits, and while noted it ‘may not have the footfall of larger libraries, but its as value to local people is as great, if not greater’, continuing: “We have more limited opportunities for social interaction (no theatre or cinema) and the library offers a safe place to meet and to enjoy the books, use the internet, undertake research and talk to knowledgeable staff about a range of services and activities.”

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said: “We will await a response from Cornwall Council.”

Ms Skinner told the meeting the town council should be successful in securing some funding from a community network local devolution fund, which will go towards a report on town council assets already undertaken as well as be put towards various surveys on the library building due to be carried out.