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Flintshire Connects officially opened
Published: 23/05/2014
Flintshire Connects, the second centre offering first class customer service
and advice for council customers has been officially opened in Flint.
Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Local Government and Government Business and
Councillor Bernie Attridge, Deputy Leader of Flintshire County Council cut the
ribbon on Friday 16 May at a ceremony in front of local politicians and
community leaders, council officers, North Wales Police and Jobcentre Plus
staff.
The Flintshire Connects centres are being rolled out by Flintshire County
Council as part of its customer service improvement programme, to provide
improved access to council services at convenient town centre locations.
Customers are able to meet with customer service advisors who can provide
information, answer questions, deal with service requests and provide
assistance across all council services including housing, Streetscene, welfare
benefits and advice, Blue Badges, Concessionary Travel and Council Tax. They
also promote partnership working with North Wales Police and Jobcentre Plus,
whose staff are also situated in the centres providing a joined-up network of
organisations to local residents.
Local Government and Government Business Minister, Lesley Griffiths said:
“Flintshire Connects will improve access for the people of Flint to a host of
public services.
“During my tour of Local Authorities last summer, I witnessed some excellent
examples of collaboration. This was evident at the Flintshire Connects hub in
Holywell where County Council services have been brought together under one
roof alongside partners including Job Centre Plus and North Wales Police to
deliver a successful joined-up service.
“I am pleased Welsh Government funding is supporting the Local Authority in
delivering this initiative which will now benefit the people it serves in Flint.
Councillor Bernie Attridge, Deputy Leader said: “Once again Flintshire County
Council is successfully working in partnership with North Wales Police and
Jobcentre Plus to provide people with locally accessible services all under one
roof. It is really important that customers have to option to talk face to face
to council service advisors and Flintshire Connects gives residents this
opportunity.
“This follows the success of our first centre in Holywell, and it makes sense
that local organisations work together to offer the best services possible.”
Julian Sandham, the North Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, said:
“Flintshire Connects is a great idea to create a one-stop shop to ensure people
have easier access to a whole range of public services, including the police.
“This initiative accords perfectly with a key objective of our Police and Crime
Plan to foster more collaboration and partnership working between the various
agencies in North Wales. It will provide simpler and more joined up access to
services in a modern and welcoming environment which can only be a good thing
for everybody concerned.”
John Bisby, District Manager, North and Mid Wales Jobcentre Plus said: “This is
a major step forward in the modernisation of our services in Flintshire. The
co-located service in this site will improve the digital access of the majority
of our customers, whilst still providing critical face to face support to those
who need it.”
The centre is located on the ground floor of County Offices, in Church Street,
directly opposite from the library and is open from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to
Friday and 9am to 12 noon on Saturday. North Wales Police are scheduled to hold
policing surgeries every Friday between 10am – 12 noon and will trial a front
counter service in the afternoon.
A new self service payment machine has also been installed which will enable
payment of any County Council account and will enable members of both the
Flintshire Credit Union and the North Wales Credit Union to make payments.
Flintshire Connects Customer Service Advisors will be on hand to assist
customers use these new machines.
Another two centres will be opening this year with Flintshire Connects Connahs
Quay opening summer 2014 and Flintshire Connects Buckley opening later in 2014
taking the total number of Flintshire Connects Centres to four.
Photo caption L-R: Cllr Carolyn Thomas, John Bisby District Manager North and
Mid Wales Jobcentre Plus, Colin Everett Chief Executive Flintshire County
Council, Julian Sandham North Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner,
Lesley Griffiths AM, Cllr Bernie Attridge Deputy Leader Flintshire County
Council, North Wales Police Chief Constable Mark Polin.