Suffolk County Council has shelved plans to focus wholly on outsourcing. Yet Suffolk’s central government funding has been cut by 28% and needs to save around 50m over the next two years, in addition to the 43m cuts already made.

It was planning to on closing two-thirds of its libraries, but the Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) plans to save 44 of them. The council-formed social enterprise aims to have lower overheads, and its charitable status will allow it tax breaks and potentially grant funding.

Suffolk County Council will retain statutory responsibility for library services and will remain accountable for the county wide network.