BRISTOL'S mobile library service will be scrapped after a decision was made behind closed doors.

The city council began a three-month consultation exercise in September to look at the future of the mobile library.

The council is concerned that it only serves part of the city, that not enough people use it and that those numbers are declining.

A report on the consultation results is due to go a scrutiny committee meeting today, to examine council proposals before they are finalised.

But it turns out the decision has already been made – a month ago.

Executive member for culture Simon Cook decided to axe the service in December, but the delegated decision was never announced by the authority and it was not made at a public committee hearing.

The service will be discontinued from April this year, on the grounds it is no longer fit for purpose.

In a report to councillors, head of libraries Kate Murray said: "It is apparent that although the service through the mobile library is much loved and appreciated by the customers that use it, the number is dwindling.

"There is a fundamental inequality in accessing the service. It is not equally accessible to the residents of Bristol and can never be made so. It is not a cost-effective way of delivering library services."

The report also points to a low response during the consultation period.

In total 838 people used or registered with the service in the last 18 months, and were issued 20,000 books, an average of 23 books each.

But when the council sent out consultation letters they only sent them to 167 current customer households. A spokesman said this was because the "active use" at the time was only 60 per cent.

Only 15 replies were received, but 14 of them said they wanted to keep the service, praising the helpful drivers and noting how the library acted as a social meeting place.

Just five people attended three public meetings the council describes as "well advertised and promoted", and only two people replied online.

A further 82 surveys were returned from around 600 people who went to the Celebrating Age Festival in September.

The mobile library is one part of the council's outreach service, the other being the "at home van" which delivers books to individuals at their homes, to sheltered accommodation and nursing homes.

In total they cost £194,771 a year to run; £137,771 for staff, £37,420 for transport and £19,580 for premises.

Replacing the 12-year-old mobile library van would have cost around £100,000. Instead the council will expand the 'at home' service and will consider more routes.

Currently it services 124 people and 170 organisations.

Council spokeswoman Helen Hewitt said: "This was an executive decision. Executive decisions and delegated decisions by senior officers are made every day – as and when they need to be taken.

"The decision to extend the 'at home' service and cease the mobile service was made with all the information collated from the public consultation exercise.

"All the information made available to the executive member in December is contained in the report to scrutiny.

"The executive's decision on this issue has enabled a suitable handover period for the new customers to at home service and enabled officers to plan for expansion of the at home service early in April."