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Decision details

Realignment of Claimant Contact Facilities for the Council's Benefits service

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Regeneration

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The recommendation in this report will realign the customer contact facilities available for Benefits service claimants following the experience of the current pandemic and will produce some medium term savings as other external buildings are vacated and released by other Council services.

Decision:

`1.      That the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Regeneration approved the Orchardson Street benefit reception site to not be re-opened and that the property is vacated by the Benefits service to enable bee other Council services to move into the building.

 

 

Reasons for Decision

 

1.              The recommendation in this report is made as it has been proved over the last nine months during the pandemic that the Council can provide the service in a different way. The various alternatives to face to face contact during this period have proved successful with no reduction in customer service to the borough’s claimants. These methods of contact include via the telephone, webchat, e-mail, on-line forms, white mail and the Council’s Benefits visiting service. In addition, in the future the Vauxhall Bridge Road Benefit reception site will re-open when it is considered safe to do so.

 

2.              The realignment of the customer contact facilities available for Benefits service claimants following the experience of the current pandemic will also produce some medium-term savings as other external buildings are vacated and released by other Council services.

Publication date: 17/12/2020

Date of decision: 17/12/2020

Effective from: 24/12/2020

Accompanying Documents: