Merge plans for county contact desks

The change reflects a 28 per cent fall in visits to the County Council’s service points over the past three years as more and more customers turn to the telephone and web for help and advice.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire County Council said: “Latest figures show that around 25 per cent of all visits to the County Council’s existing customer service points are about district council services, underlining the benefits of working together to answer public enquiries more swiftly and easily.

“The move will help Nottinghamshire County Council save around £100,000 through reduced building rents and staffing costs to reinvest in services to help vulnerable adults and children.

“The County Council is already facing a £154 million gap over the next three years due to falling Government grants and rising demand for services.”

In Ashfield, discussions about a shared service point are already underway with Ashfield District Council.

In the meantime the service will be delivered from Sutton Library, the Idlewells Centre, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9.30am-1.30pm.

In Mansfield, the new jointly delivered service will be available from Mansfield District Council’s Civic Centre on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am-1.30pm.

For more information visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk.