Liverpool’s One Stop Shop services could be cut down to just two sites across the city under new savings plans.
By March, Liverpool Council has to find ways to plug a £73m funding shortfall, with warnings of service cuts and job losses on the horizon. A document outlining where savings could be made was published by the local authority last month.
Among the proposals are a reduction in the city’s customer contact centres, known as One Stop Shops. The council has now launched a public consultation on the future of the centres which could lead to the closure of all but two.
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The One Stop Shops service currently has two full time and seven part time sites, and there are two proposals that the council wants feedback on two options. The first would lead to Kirkdale’s One Stop Shop opening two days a week and a one day a week provision at Toxteth, Norris Green, Old Swan, Central, Lee Valley, Kensington, Garston and Parklands.
The second option would provide a three day service at Kirkdale, two days at Norris Green and the closure of all other sites. Changes to the One Stop Shop service could save the cash-strapped council £800,000 next year.
Services will still be available online and through the Contact Centre, according to the local authority. Cllr William Shortall, who represents Old Swan ward, told a meeting of the council’s finance and resources committee earlier this month the service is "10 times more valuable than the savings it would make” and felt the city is "rushing in a little bit".
He said said vulnerable residents would still need to be able to access face-to-face service. Following the consultation, which will run until January 6, a report will be sent to Budget Council in March 2023 to make a final decision.
A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: “The council needs to make overall savings of £73 million in 2023/24, with a target of £800,000 proposed to be saved from the One Stop Shops budget. We have come up with two proposals which we are asking for views on and we would encourage people to respond to the online survey, or fill in the form in the One Stop Shops.
“One Stop Shops account for around 1% of the council’s contact with residents, and people will still be able to contact us on the telephone or online. Our long term vision is to move to a neighbourhood model of delivery, where residents can access our services at any council building.”
Those wishing to respond to the consultation can do so online at https://liverpool.gov.uk/onestopshopconsultation or email: onestopshopproposal@liverpool.gov.uk
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