8 hours Ago
Brighton and Hove City Council has revealed it plans to move two customer service centres to two city libraries. This is part of changes which the council says will help residents who struggle to access services online or over the phone. From May 6, the council's customer service centres will move from their current locations in Bartholomew House and Hove Town Hall to new help desks at Jubilee Library and Hove Library.
These will be open from 10am until 5pm, Monday to Friday. Dedicated staff will be available to assist residents with queries, including applying for a bus pass, renewing a blue badge, and obtaining information about council tax payments. In-person support will also be provided at family hubs in Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb, Hangleton, and Tarner.
The aim is to make it easier for residents who cannot contact council services online or by phone to access self-help facilities such as computers and telephones, and face-to-face support if needed. A homelessness help desk will remain at Bartholomew House, where people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can continue to receive support. This help desk will be open from 9am until 4.
30pm, Monday to Friday, and will be staffed by a team of specialist housing staff. Free access to computers and telephones will also be available at all four family hubs and 13 libraries across the city for customers who do not have a phone or internet access to contact council services. Councillor Jacob Allen, cabinet member for adult social care, public health, and service transformation, said: "It’s essential that every resident can access council services when they need them, and we appreciate not everyone can go online or pick up the phone.
"By decentralising and bringing services directly to our communities, this project will make it easier for people across the city who need face-to-face support to get it. "We’ll continue to encourage residents to use our online services where possible, but we’ve listened to feedback and are proud to offer a more accessible, in-person option for residents seeking assistance with accessing the breadth of services we provide.".
