Posted by The U-turn over closing council customer service points (CSPs) throughout Bristol has been praised by one of the city’s MPs.
It emerged today that six CSPs that had been targeted for closure would remain open following strong criticism of the plans from residents.
Self service: Online point at a Bristol CSP
Up to 18 staff would have lost their jobs had the plans gone through, but now the council has decided to keep the centres open.
The centres in Fishponds, Hartcliffe, Lawrence Weston and Southmead will remain, while those in Bedminster and Knowle will open for three days a week from January.
The plan to cut the number of CSPs was aimed to save £500,000 a year, and encourage more people to use online and phone services.
But Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy said recognition of council tax payers who could not, or would not, use these services needed to be taken.
Writing on her blog, she said: “I’m all in favour of modernising service delivery but it should be done with the primary purpose of improving service delivery, not just as an excuse to save money.
“And yes, many more people these days do choose to use the internet or the phone to access council services, but not everyone can, or wants to, and it’s their council tax money too. There might come a time when such centres no longer serve a purpose, but that time hasn’t come yet.
“This is of course yet another example of a Lib Dem administration in Bristol floating a controversial idea and then dropping it as soon as it proves unpopular. Some might say this is a sign they’re listening to the public. Others might say it shows a lack of nerve or any strategic sense of direction.
“In this case, however, I’m just happy they’ve made the right decision, even if it took them a long time to get there.”
A council spokesman said that after “genuine” consultation, the message they received was that residents valued the CSPs and that new plans would aim to find a balance between new methods of working and maintaining the offices.
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