City set for review into face-to-face services
The review follows the relocation of the council’s appointment area from the Gateway on Westgate Street to the Eastgate Shopping Centre.
The plan set to be agreed at this month’s cabinet meeting will look at how the council can make the most of the new facilities and how they’re being used.
It will also look at how services are being offered to the city’s most vulnerable residents especially residents who are homeless.
The new appointment centre opened in July on the first floor of the shopping centre and is accessed by the stairs and lift immediately inside the Eastgate Street entrance.
The new central location is intended to make it easier for people to visit the Appointment Centre.
Since the pandemic pre-booked face-to-face appointments have been offered twice a week and the review will look at whether this should be updated.
It will also look at improving the appointment system, if more services could be delivered in the community, and how technology could simplify the service.
The review will include feedback from customers, staff, and other key partners and may see a variety of pilot programs introduced to help residents.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said: “With the move to the Eastgate Shopping Centre now fully complete the time is right to look at how we are making the most of the new facility and how we deliver our face-to-face services, especially to our most vulnerable residents. By making sure we’re working alongside people and assisting them in the ways that suit them best, we can make the most of our limited resources and continue to deliver an excellent service.”
Councillor Luke Shervey, Cabinet Member for Housing at Gloucester City Council, said: “It’s our duty to make sure that we are meeting the needs of those who need our help the most, so it’s important that we regularly review how we are doing things to see if there’s anything we can do to make it easier for people who find themselves homeless.”