BUDE-STRATTON Town Council clerk, Donna Bennett, gave an update to the councillors on the takeover of the town library at the their latest full council meeting at the Parkhouse Centre on Thursday, May 3.

The town council is currently in the process of acquiring the library from Cornwall Council and the council members had to agree the delegating of the authority to spend the £10,000 transition fund, on legal fees and other set up costs to the town clerk, Mrs Donna Bennett) and the RFO (real financial officer), Keith Cornwell.

Mrs Bennett said: “Discussions are ongoing but there are quite tight timescales to adhere to. We’ll try and get it done by December as it needs to be done by March.

“The £10,000 is only for the start up costs, not for the building or painting. Keith requested that we delegate the £10,000 that Cornwall Council will give us.

“We send a thing to them at the end and then they say whether they agree.”

In reply, Cllr Julia Bryson said: “I am fine with that, but why have the devolution meetings stopped?”

Mrs Bennett replied: “There are meetings at the moment with project leads and they tell us what we need to be doing.”

After some more debating, Mrs Bennett added: “There’s still a lot going on in the background, we need the authority to spend the money.”

Cllr Lea Deely then asked: “Can we ask for updates as we go along with the process?”

Mrs Bennett said: “You need an update every so often, how about every four to six weeks? At the moment we’re just finalising it but it’s not set in stone. We need to choose a solicitor and make sure we make steps forward.”

Cllr Peter Moores stated: “I’m not sure if the council have been told that the business case has been accepted? Cornwall Council have approved the business plan and it will go ahead which is a nice thing to say.”

Cllr Moores then proposed that the authority is delegated to the clerk and RFO, which was seconded by Cllr Deely. The proposal was then unanimously backed by the 12 councillors in attendance.