Issue - meetings

This report sets out the details for the proposed development of a Customer Services Hub at the Picture House St Catherine’s Road, Grantham.   

Note:  Councillor Mark Whittington left the Council Chamber for the duration of this item due to his involvement with a third party connected with this development.

Purpose of report

This report set out the details for the proposed development of a Customer Services Hub at the Picture House, St. Catherine’s Road, Grantham.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Delegates authority to the Chief Finance Officer to agree the Heads of Terms for joint occupancy by a public sector organisation, with respect to the funding contribution and operational criteria.

2.  Recommends to Council an allocation of £900k in order to fit out the vacant units at the Picture House St Catherine’s Road, Grantham in order to provide a Customer Services Hub.

3.  Delegates authority for the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, to approve a funding

agreement with the public sector organisation that will ensure both parties contribute a proportionate share of the fit out and operational costs based on occupancy and usage.

4.  Approves entering into a lease agreement for the units with the public

sector organisation.

5. Delegates authority for the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property to allocate funds (following approval) and enter into a contract for the construction and fit-out works required to the agreed specification. 

Alternative options considered and rejected

An alternative option was to find identify a location for a new Customer Services Hub in an alternative location, but this would remove the advantage of hosting the Centre adjacent to the new Council Offices. Furthermore, the vacant units provided sufficient space to enable the development of a multi-purpose Customer Hub.

To no longer have a face-to-face customer services function - this was not considered a viable option as the Council’s Customer Experience Strategy supported a face-to-face service for those residents who preferred this customer offer.

To retain the service at the Guildhall Arts Centre – this was not considered a viable option as the space is limited and therefore the service offer was reduced accordingly.

Reason for decisions

A front facing customer service function was essential for the residents of South Kesteven District, and with the current St. Peters Hill offices closing, and officers being relocated to a new office space, a new customer services space was also needed. The two empty units below the new office space were an ideal fit for size, location and links to back-office employees.

Sharing the space with a public sector partner organisation providing public sector services would create a central hub in the town for residents to visit and access services. The costs of creating this Hub would also be shared across the two parties; however it was confirmed that South Kesteven District Council would not bear the significant share of the costs for this project.