Weekly Staff Training Brings Benefits

From 7 December, the benefits and revenues office at North Norfolk District Council's headquarters in Cromer will open later on Wednesday mornings to allow regular weekly training for staff.

The move, which will mean the benefits, council tax and business rates offices will not be open for visits in person or telephone calls until 10am on Wednesdays from 7 December onwards, will allow the Council to devote time to training and developing staff - a critical part of the plan to improve the benefits and revenue services in line with the Government's demands.

The new opening hours for telephone inquiries and personal visits to the Holt Road office are:
• Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays - 8.30am to 5pm.
• Wednesdays - 10am to 5pm
• Fridays - 8.30am to 4.30pm
• Saturdays and Sundays - Closed

Councillor Peter Moore, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: "We hope the later opening on Wednesdays will not cause great inconvenience, though it is a time when we get fewer calls and visits, and staff would normally expect to press on with administrative tasks anyway.

"The new weekly sessions to develop the skills of members of staff are a vital part of our improvement plan, and will lead to a better, more effective service for our customers."

In a 200-page report published this summer, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI - the organisation which examines the overall standard of local authority benefits services as well as the anti-fraud work they carry out) concluded that NNDC's housing and council tax benefits administration service was 'Fair'.

The BFI also found that, although NNDC has made many improvements since its Comprehensive Performance Assessment in 2003, further and continued improvements were needed in many areas. With the help of the BFI's Performance Development Team, NNDC has put together a plan to raise the standard of the service over the next two years.

ENDS