Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Management provided an update on the Flintshire Connects Programme.

The first Flintshire Connects centre opened in Holywell in November 2012 and on average received 350 customer service enquiries each week relating to key County Council services such as Housing, Council Tax, Benefits and Streetscene.  In addition, customers were also able to access Job Centre Plus and North Wales Police services and information at Holywell.

Plans were at various stages of development for Flintshire Connects centres in Flint, Connah’s Quay and Buckley. 

The Flintshire Connects centre at Flint would be located on the ground floor of the CountyOffices and the building would also accommodate North Wales Police and JobCentre Plus.

The preferred option for the Flintshire Connects centre in Connah’s Quay was the integration with Connah’s Quay Library and Learning Centre.  This would enable service integration and shared facilities.  It would also involve the creation of a dedicated Heritage Exhibition Centre which was welcomed by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment.

An options appraisal had been undertaken to identify a suitable site to house the Buckley Flintshire Connects centre and the Buckley Town Council building was identified as the preferred location.  It was proposed that the centre would occupy a section of the group floor with the integration of the existing Cash Office into Flintshire Connects.  North Wales Police had expressed an interest in occupying an office on the first floor.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the update report on the delivery of the Flintshire Connects Centre at CountyOffices, Flint and Connah’s Quay be noted;

(b)       That the preferred location for the Buckley Flintshire Connects Centre on the ground floor of the Town Council Building at Buckley, subject to further consultation with partner organisations and local Buckley Members be agreed; and

(c)        That lead officers be authorised to proceed to design approval and conclude negotiations with North Wales Police on their proposed occupation at Buckley Town Council Building as part of the Flintshire Connects Programme.