THERE was applause from the public gallery as councillors approved the business plan for a newly-established charity to take on Surrey’s “valued” performing arts collection.

After almost a year in the making, members of NewSPAL (Surrey Performing Arts Library) found out on Tuesday, February 26 their attempts to take on running the library had been approved.

The library, previously housed at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, faced an uncertain future last year when Surrey County Council proposed funding cuts.

It is thought more than 160,000 people benefit from the collection of sheet music, plays, dramas and other performing arts books – one of only a few in the country specialising in renting out the work.

But last week cabinet members voted unanimously to grant the agreement with the charity to transfer the collection into their hands.

The process could still take two years and NewSPAL still needs to find a new home so in the meantime the county council will continue to run the service from Ewell Library.

Woking Borough Council has offered some rent-free accommodation but this has not yet been formally confirmed, according to papers presented to councillors at their cabinet meeting last week.

But there was a jubilant atmosphere in the room as councillors welcomed the move.

Deputy council leader Colin Kemp said: “This is a good news story.”

He said it was a “very valued collection” used by hundreds of people in the county, including schools.

Mr Kemp added: “I wish them all the luck in the future.”

Cllr Julie Iles, lead member for all age learning, said: “It’s a very good example of working with different partners to secure a good outcome.”

Council leader Tim Oliver said: “I know it’s been a long journey to get to this point but definitely worthwhile and worth all the effort.”

Trustees had feared splitting the collection would lead to a serious decline in its integrity and the loss of the essential specialist support previously available to users.