LOCAL libraries threatened with closure look set to be given a stay of execution as Somerset County Council tries to comply with a High Court ruling.

Porlock, Watchet, Bishops Lydeard and Nether Stowey libraries are all in line to have their funding reinstated after a High Court judgement quashed the county's plans to withdraw funding from April this year.

Opening hours also look likely to be returned to their pre-cut status and axed mobile library routes reintroduced across Somerset.

County council cabinet member Cllr Christine Lawrence must make a single-handed "key decision" on the issue before next Wednesday, although she has little choice but to approve the bulk of the recommendations contained in an officer's report.

The county council was taken to a judicial review last year by campaigners battling to save their local libraries.

The judge ruled that the authority had failed to fully consider the impact of the planned cuts and closures on vulnerable and minority groups.

He quashed the council's decision to withdraw funding from 11 libraries, reduce opening hours in 23 of the county's 34 libraries by 20 per cent and cut four mobile library routes.

In a report to Cllr Lawrence, senior council manager David Dick said the court had found the authority to be in breach of its equalities duties and decisions taken by the council in February last year were, therefore, unlawful.

He has advised Cllr Lawrence, who has responsibility for libraries, to reinstate all services to "ensure that Somerset County Council is compliant with the requirements of the court judgement".

He said staff would be contacted and offered more working hours, while new drivers would have to be recruited for the mobile library service.

But future changes to the library service have still not been ruled out by the council, which is currently reviewing all services as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

Mr Dick said: "The library service, along with all council services, will be subject to the service review process as part of the council's 'change programme'.

"The library service is due to be considered from April 2012. The future direction and funding of the library service will be linked to the outcome of the service review process.

"A new libraries decision could be taken before the service review in undertaken.

"Any undue haste in making such a decision is likely to engender distrust, encourage opposition and add credence to the challenge that the council entered into the process with a closed mind."

As part of Mr Dick's report, Cllr Lawrence will also be asked to re-approve setting aside £600,000 in funding to introduce new self-service technology at ten of the county's busies libraries, including Minehead.

"Somerset County Council has already gone out to tender for installing self-service technology in libraries as part of the plans for modernisation of services.

"It is recommended that this proposals is approved as it increases the opportunities for efficiently managing costs and opening hours within the service," Mr Dick said.

A spokesman for the county council confirmed Cllr Lawrence's key decision had to be made to bring the authority inline with the judicial review decision.

"The decision will also approve the work, which was agreed as part of the recently quashed February 2011 council decision, to deliver self-service technology at some of our busiest libraries.

"It would also approve the council's approach to deciding the future funding and shape of the library service - that elected members should consider taking a fresh decision following a service review which is currently scheduled to start in April 2012.

"All of the council's services are being reviewed over the next 18 months," the spokesman said.