Improving access to council services – right in the heart of our communities

Three additional council libraries have recently been enhanced to offer face-to-face assistance for residents requiring support with accessing various council services. Alongside the existing locations that already provide in-person appointments for intricate queries, staff at Norris Green, Allerton, Parklands, and Garston libraries are now available to assist individuals with several tasks.

Library personnel at these sites can help residents to report issues online, request different council services, make payments, and upload necessary documents or evidence. This initiative ensures that people who may face digital exclusion, feel uncertain using online platforms, or simply need additional assistance, can still obtain the services they require with guidance from knowledgeable and friendly library staff.

In addition to this expansion, the council has introduced telephone appointments, allowing residents more flexibility in choosing how and when they connect with council services, all from the comfort of their own homes. For those with more complex matters, improvements have been made at selected library locations that offer pre-booked face-to-face sessions. These sites now feature private interview rooms, including confidential pods, providing a secure and comfortable environment for residents to discuss their concerns—addressing a key need expressed through community feedback.

Councillor Ruth Bennett, Cabinet Member for Transformation, commented on these developments: “These improvements are about making services easier to access, more inclusive, and more responsive to local needs with a ‘no wrong front door’ ethos, and using our libraries as welcoming community hubs where people can get the right support, in the right way.”

Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More