All mobile libraries and mobile one stop shops in Cornwall face the axe

The decision was made at the Partnerships Portfolio Advisory Committee meeting on January 7, as part of a review of the Council’s customer access services which includes Libraries, One Stop Shops, the telephone Contact Centre and customer payment options.

The move is part of plans to find £1.3m in savings from a review of these services.

A council spokesman said: "PAC members agreed to progress proposals to remove all mobile library and mobile one stop shop services, replacing the services with a range of community based initiatives.

"There will be a 12 week consultation with members, town and parish councils, partners and communities around this proposal."

The council says that there are examples of these already operating such as the home delivery service and community libraries which currently operate at Roche, St Dennis and Stithians.

It is also proposed that 50 per cent of the current mobile library and mobile one stop shop budget, around £150,000, is used to fund alternative ways of delivering services to those communities affected.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for partnerships Adam Paynter said: “The Council is under severe pressure to deliver services within very tight budgets. We will be undertaking a 12 week consultation on plans to cease the mobile library and mobile one stop shop service.

"We want to find ways to deliver services in a different way and will be looking at how we can use the resources available to deliver new ways of working. With partnership initiatives such as Pub is the Hub which has seen mini libraries set up in pubs, and the successful home library service, we have seen how services can be made available to communities.”

The next steps regarding a consultation on the proposal to cease mobile library and one stop shop services are underway and the outcome of that consultation will be reported back to the Partnerships PAC before any final decision is taken by the Cabinet.