Council plan for access points closures in Skegness area

Skegness CAP is one of 11 in the district and currently opens 39 hours a week, but services are to be reduced to 21 hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The access point at Spilsby is among those to close for good on November 25.

As a result, there will be improvements to online services and more customer service advisors in ELDC’s telephone Call Centre.

Self-serve kiosks are also to be introduced.

The decision made by the council’s Executive Board comes following a public consultation, which saw 485 respondents submit their views.

Over the past three years footfall at CAPs/TICs has reduced by around 18 percent.

Compass Point Business Services has provided the customer help at a cost of around £730,000 per year, but over the next four years ELDC needs to save around £6m from its £18m revenue due to government funding cuts.

Portfolio holder for partnerships Coun Graham Marsh said: “Whilst we recognise there is still a need for Customer Access Points, going forward the council also needs to be providing quality online and telephone services.”