Council services for residents in Hayle, St Ives and Redruth are set to change as a plan to shift One Stop Shops into local library buildings is agreed.
The council says that libraries and customer services are facing a £1.6 million cut in their combined budgets over the next four years and joining some libraries with one stop shops to create a new single “Face to Face” service will help keep them open and deliver savings.
Cornwall council has so far avoided the wholesale closure of libraries, unlike many other UK authorities.
Council cabinet support member, Steve Double, said: “We recognise that libraries play a very important role at the heart of their communities. By bringing libraries and one stop shops together where possible we can ensure that we keep our libraries open in Cornwall at the same time as providing our customers with a more efficient and effective way of using the various services we offer”.
The original proposals involved the possibility of relocating one stop shops to library premises in up to nine towns. Since that time the council has carried out a consultation with staff, elected members and town and parish councils and cut that number to six.
The council says discussions have also taken place with voluntary and community organisations such as CAB, Disability Cornwall, Volunteer Cornwall, Carrick Housing alongside police and credit unions and it will also carry out a review to identify ways of meeting needs in rural communities, such as the development of community hubs.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here