Agenda item

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submits a report that provides an overview of the Using Buildings Better progamme. The Commission is asked to note the report and comment as it sees fit.

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submitted a report that provided an overview of the Using Buildings Better programme. The Director presented the report and explained that it had previously been considered by the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission. The Chair of the Commission had suggested that the report should also be brought to the Overview Select Committee because it cut across different Scrutiny Commissions’ portfolios.

The Chair invited Members to comment on the report and queries and comments raised included the following:

·      The Chair asked whether the rationalisation of buildings was linked also to the rationalisation of jobs. The Director responded that there would be some knock on implications and the Council were very mindful that in some cases there would be some staffing reductions.

·      Councillor Porter queried the plan for the disposal of the Old Aylestone Library. The City Mayor responded that he would check and let Councillor Porter know. Councillor Cutkelvin reported that a community group were currently using the premises.

·      Councillor Porter referred to the Gilmorton Community Centre and noted that the report stated that usage of the centre would be monitored and if it did not increase, the centre would be released for alternative use. He asked whether plans could be put in abeyance for the time being, because the centre was the only facility that local residents had in that area and the running costs at approximately £10-12K per annum were a small proportion of the council budget. Usage figures for the centre would be modest because of the number of people on the estate; however a good percentage of people used the centre which was run by volunteers. The City Mayor responded that there was no enthusiasm to close council buildings, but the budget situation was extremely serious and taking into account the state of the building and number of users, there appeared to be little justification for keeping the centre open.

·      A Member sought assurances that Councillors and Scrutiny Commissions would be engaged and consulted in the programme. The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance confirmed that Scrutiny would be involved. The Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission had regularly received updates on both Transforming Neighbourhood Services and Channel Shift and it was anticipated that there would be the same procedure for other work streams.   

·      A query was raised in relation to Channel Shift and moving away from face to face contacts and telephony and a Member asked how payment transactions at the Customer Services on Granby Street were working now that they were 100% self-service.  The Director responded that her understanding was that this was working well and had been well received as it was much quicker for the customer. Floor walkers were there to help anyone who needed assistance. Officers were encouraging people to use self service facilities as the cost of a face to face transaction was over £15; however there was also a desire to support those people who needed help.   A Member commented that there were people who may not be considered to be vulnerable but who preferred face to face contact.

·      Councillor Newcombe asked whether there was any information on waiting times at the Customer Services, as it was busy and a well-used facility.

·      Comments were made there was a need to be mindful of the fact that not all wards had a housing office, community centre or a library where people could use computers and self-service machines.

The Chair thanked Councillor Cutkelvin for her suggestion that the Overview Select Committee receive the overview of Using Buildings Better.

RESOLVED:

                        that the report be noted.