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Councillors responsible for scrutinising the work of the Suffolk County Council have made a series of recommendations on how the council’s libraries policy should be developed.

Among the ten recommendations, the committee proposed that the distinction between ‘county’ and ‘community’ libraries should no longer apply, the role of mobile libraries should be made clear and that absolute clarity should be given to communities and groups interested in running a library.

The recommendations will now go forward and influence the council’s cabinet, which is due to make initial decisions on the future of Suffolk libraries next month.

The council’s scrutiny committee met campaigners, people who have expressed an interest in running a library, senior officers and the councillor responsible for libraries, as part of an evidence-gathering session. Members of the public were also given the opportunity to have their say.

Cllr Colin Hart, chair of Suffolk County Council’s scrutiny committee, said: "I would like to thank all the witnesses and members of the public who took the time and trouble to come and tell the committee of their concerns over the future of Suffolk's libraries.

"This was a valuable exercise in scrutinising an issue before decisions are taken and I hope and expect our recommendations will make a positive contribution to the new policy that is being developed."

Cllr Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: "I am extremely grateful for the comments from committee members, representatives of various campaign groups and those who have submitted bids. We’re continuing to listen and will base future policy on exhaustive consultation with the people of Suffolk."

Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet will next consider a report on the county’s libraries service on July 19.

The full recommendationms are:
* The classification of County Libraries and Community Libraries referred to in the consultation document is not a reasonable basis for a policy;
* the potential community interest company agrees individual budgets for each library;
* the business case considered by cabinet should clearly demonstrate how the community interest company service would operate across the whole of Suffolk;
* that the council retain the ability to ensure that the terms offered by the community interest company were sufficient to maintain a sustainable service;
* any claims on secondary taxation from parish, town, district or borough councils be carried out on an equitable basis across Suffolk;
* due consideration be given to innovative ideas that have already come forward and any others that are received from communities on how their services might be run;
* the policy on mobile libraries be clearly stated in the report to cabinet;
* the council provide absolute clarity to communities interested in running their libraries on issues they were likely to raise such as finance, staffing and legal issues;
* the council must satisfy itself on the financial viability of the plans put forward and that they are sustainable.
* further expressions of interest are welcome and will be considered.