A new, convenient One Stop Shop where people can access local services will be opened by Bath & North East Somerset Council on Monday 21st May 2012 at Manvers Street, Bath.
Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP will be given a tour of the One Stop Shop today meeting Council staff and partner organisations that will also use the venue before the doors are opened to expected numbers of up to 1,000 people per day.
Councillor David Bellotti (Lib-Dem, Lyncombe), Cabinet Member for Community Resources, said, “The revolution of how Bath & North East Somerset Council provides high quality services has taken another step forwards with the Manvers Street One Stop Shop. All of the services previously available at the Guildhall and other offices will be here in a more pleasant and modern and welcoming environment along with some of our key public sector partners.
“Customers can even have a coffee and something to eat in between getting advice from the Council or one of our partners about issues that are important to them, like their benefits. The One Stop Shop sets a new standard for customer services in our area.”
Steve Webb MP, Minister for Pensions, added, “Face-to-face contact between local people and public sector services must be as convenient and straightforward as possible. I’m really pleased to see Bath & North East Somerset Council has taken action to achieve this by providing a variety of local services that people find useful all under one roof and in a setting which welcomes anyone who comes here.”
What will people find at the One Stop Shop?
All the Council Connect services previously provided at the Guildhall, Shopmobility on Lower Borough Walls and Building Control’s reception in Lewis House will relocate to Manvers Street. Along with services from other public and voluntary organisations including Age UK, Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Service Volunteers, Connexions, Dorothy House, HM Revenue & Customs and Somer Housing will also be on site.
There will be:
- Various meeting areas for customers to discuss their enquiries in appropriate levels of privacy, with staff from the Council and other public and voluntary organisations;
- A local Shopmobility service, close to the main train & bus services, for the convenience of our customers;
- Self-service facilities for people to access online information, phone other departments and organisations and to make payments;
- Customer toilets, a café, dedicated display space for local information and exhibitions, and a small children’s play area.
Opening times are Monday & Tuesday & Thursday; 8.30am – 5pm; Wednesday 9.30am – 5pm; Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm; Saturday (Shopmobility only) 9.30am – 4pm.
The work at Manvers Street is one of three revamps of the Council’s One Stops Shops with improvements nearly complete at The Hollies, Midsomer Norton and a new facility is planned as part of the Keynsham town centre regeneration project.
The plans are all part of the Council’s ‘Workplaces Programme’ to use office space more efficiently and provide the best possible services for local people – £1 million has already been saved by closing other offices including Plymouth House and Trimbridge House and relocating services to other existing locations.
