Proposals to improve access to services throughout Cheshire East has been endorsed by Cheshire East Council’s Cabinet Members. The scheme involves moving the Council’s customer service points into libraries in a number of areas, including Wilmslow.
The transfer of services in nearly all cases will mean that opening hours will be significantly increased. Whilst in Wilmslow opening hours will actually be slightly decreased from 44.75 hours a week to 44 hours, the service will be available for the first time, in the evenings.
Councillor David Brown, Cabinet Member with responsibility for customer services said: "Cheshire East Council is firmly committed to providing easily accessible services to all its residents."
"These proposals allow the Council to provide a much improved service, with longer opening hours at a range of times to suit all people. At the moment, the customer service points in these areas have in some cases, very limited hours and in most, no evening openings at all.
"Transferring the services into the libraries will allow an added degree of flexibility while saving costs, both in personnel and in buildings."
Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries said: "Libraries have been a central hub for communities for years. These transfers will reinforce that role and bring better, more convenient services to our residents."
There are no confirmed timetables drawn up as yet but a pilot scheme will run in Congleton next month. If successful Cheshire East is proposing to increase the range of Council services that can be accessed through the libraries during 2010.
Displaced staff as a result of the relocation of the Customer Service Point at
Wilmslow will be redeployed or offered voluntary redundancy.
