Why is the Council closing down three tips (Household Waste Recycling Centres)?
It will save the Council £720,000 over two years. We run more HWRCs per head of population than most other local authorities. They are expensive to run. Some of them are being used by people from outside the county and yet we’re paying for them. By deterring out-of-county users we’ll have less demand on the 14 remaining HWRCs.
How did the Council select Stapleford, Sutton and Gedling HWRCs for closure?
Stapleford and Sutton sites had been due for closure for some time. Both of these have extensive users from a neighbouring County Council and low throughput. In the case of Stapleford it has poor access and planning restrictions. Users can go to other sites which are within reasonable travelling distance.
Gedling site requires more money to be spent on it in short term; but users can go to a nearby modern site at Calverton that is underused at present.
Why is the Council closing the County Contact Points? What will happen to people who don’t have access to the web – how do they get advice?
The Customer Services Centre via telephone and the internet provide a range of interactive and information services for people. Public libraries provide free access and support to anyone wishing to use the internet. In addition some face-to-face advice officers will be retained to work through libraries, Mobiles and other community venues.
Where else can people go to for benefits advice?
People can also get benefits advice from the Citizen’s Advice Bureaux and Department of Work and Pensions.
How will the service be affected?
This could mean that the County Council can no longer provide community advice sessions and the daily telephone advice line for the public. It could also lead to a reduction in the amount of tribunal representation.
However, the service will still continue to provide valuable advocacy and advice to social care teams to ensure that vulnerable people are able to access their full benefit entitlements.
The welfare rights service is keen to work closely with agencies to minimise the impact on local benefit claimants.
