Customer Service Centre opens for business
Bedford Borough Council’s brand new Customer Service Centre is
now open to the public, offering an improved service to residents
while saving taxpayers’ money.
The centre makes it easier than ever before for local residents
to access Council services, get advice and receive information from
one convenient town centre location. The brand new facility gives
residents a better service for less money, with significant savings
to be achieved from the reduction in the number of different sites
from which the Council operates.
Local residents will be able to access a broad range of services
at the Customer Service Centre, including:
• Council Tax and Benefits enquiries
• Planning enquiries
• Licensing
• Blue Badges and Concessionary travel
• Parking permits
• Highways
• Housing options and advice
• Environmental queries
• Payments
• Tourist Information and Box Office Ticket Sales
Providing a single point of contact for local residents will
also help to reduce back office costs and, as part of the Council’s
wider accommodation strategy, will save £800,000 per year. With the
majority of council services now relocated to Borough Hall the
Customer Service Centre provides a more accessible location for
residents seeking advice and information.
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: “Through the
Customer Service Centre we are able to improve the service offered
to residents’ while making considerable savings for local
taxpayers.
“With the Council vacating the Town Hall office block, we have
committed to ensuring the Council and its services remain available
to local residents in a convenient, accessible town centre
location.
“The new facility will make it easier than ever before for
residents to access services and get the information they need.
This will give residents what they want, where they want it, and
all while saving taxpayers’ money.”
Councillor Shan Hunt, Portfolio Holder for Customer Services,
added: “Recent surveys have shown our customer service staff
already provide an excellent service to local residents.
“However, providing a single point of contact for all our
residents in a specially designed and designated building will help
the Council to further improve their excellent service and replaces
six Council reception points with one convenient and accessible
facility in the town centre.
“This will also help Council staff to work together to deliver
and share information, reducing the number of occasions when local
residents have to contact the Council more than once, improving
service and reducing costs.”
The Customer Service Centre is conveniently located in the town
centre at 2 Horne Lane, adjacent to the Town Hall building.
Opening times:
Customer Service Centre
Monday – Thursday 8.45 – 5.15
Friday 8.45 – 4.45
Saturday 9.00 – 1.00
Payment Office
Monday – Friday 8.45 – 4.00
Saturday 9.00- 1.00
Tourist Information and Box Office
Monday – Saturday 9.00 – 4.30