Cornwall Council cabinet members have been debating changes to library services and offices across Cornwall which involve devolving libraries and one stop shops to local councils and community organisations.

Geoff Brown, the cabinet member for communities, said the council’s actions meant none of Cornwall’s 31 libraries had closed.

’We have been forced to change the way libraries and one stop services are provided in Cornwall because of the huge cuts in our funding from the Government,’ he said.  ’Our aim throughout this process has been to work with partners and local communities to protect these much loved services by delivering them in a different way.

’I am, therefore, delighted to confirm that to date we are on target to achieve the £2m savings we need to without closing any of our current 31 libraries.’

Members were told the move to transfer the town’s former one stop shop to Callington Town Council is in its final stages.  This will see the Town Council hosting the new Information Service and, it is hoped, will result in an increase in opening hours.  

The devolution of Penryn Library to the Town Council is also in the final stages of handover, he said, with detailed discussions taking place in Camborne, Liskeard, Newquay, St Austell, St Ives, Torpoint and Truro.