The Council’s Customer Service Centre in the Market Place, Burton upon Trent, is set to undergo a refurbishment after approval was granted at the Councils’ Cabinet meeting on Monday 13th August.
Burton’s Customer Service Centre opened in 2007 provides a face to face service for visitors to the Council across a number of service including council tax, benefits, planning and housing advice.
Since the Customer Service Centre opened, an average of 41,000 customers each year seek advice and assistance and with the introduction of the Homeless Reduction Act and Universal Credit the Council predicts this figure may increase.
The refurbishment works will be included on the Council’s Capital Programme and the funding is to be provided from new burdens funding.
The works will see a new payment kiosk where visitors can pay their Council bills without having to wait for a CSC officer to take their payment and will also lead to increased privacy for visitors and create a more secure environment for all.
Councillor Patricia Ackroyd, Deputy Leader for Housing and Homelessness, said: “Burton’s Customer Service Centre has proven to be very popular since it was opened and it’s important that we continue to maintain high levels of customer service.
“Future-proofing the Customer Service Centre in advance of the expected increase in demand as a result of the Homelessness Reduction Act and Universal Credit has allowed us to provide both a private and conformable experience for our visitors and a safe and secure working environment for our officers.”