Alston Local Links Centre: Proposed revision of opening hours
Overview
Eden District Council and Cumbria County Council jointly fund the Local Links centre in Alston. The Local Links Centre at Alston is a flagship and highly successful Local Link Centre which is achieving its role in providing a central point of contact for Alston residents and visitors to the area. The main services provided are Tourism, Library & Council and Community services. The unit is currently staffed by 4 members of staff who work a variety of shifts to cover the agreed opening hours.
Both Councils are currently seeking ways to improve operational efficiency and reduce staff costs whilst maintaining viable services wherever possible, to offset the reductions in central government funding.
Proposal
To revise the opening hours of the Alston Local Links Centre as follows;
|
|
Existing hours per week |
Proposed New hours per week |
|
Summer Period for 31 weeks a year |
50 |
45 |
|
Winter period for 21 weeks a year |
34 |
30 |
This reduction will afford annual staff savings of 0.4FTE of a member of staff whilst maintaining a substantial and practical service for all customers. The savings will be apportioned to each Council, in line with the current staff funding levels. There is currently one 0.4 FTE vacancy within the Alston Links staffing and therefore the current staff’s permanent employment contracts will be unaffected by this reduction.
Even although this proposal does represent a reduction in key front line services (Tourism, Library, Community and Council), the revised service hours remain comparable with other similar services in the area as follows;
|
|
Current Summer Months Hours |
|
Kirkby Stephen TIC |
34 hrs |
|
Kirkby Stephen Local Links |
22 hrs |
|
Penrith TIC |
47 hrs |
|
Appleby TIC |
52.5 hrs |
A 3 week consultation period has now begun which will run until Friday 26th of August 2011. During this period, feedback and suggestions on this proposal are welcomed from all interested parties.
It is proposed that the new hours would be implemented as from 10th October 2010.
Comparison of Opening Hours
|
|
Existing Summer Period Hours |
Proposed New Summer Period hours |
||||
|
|
Open |
Close |
hrs per day |
Open |
Close |
hrs per day |
|
Monday |
9.30 |
5.00 |
7.5 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Tuesday |
9.30 |
5.00 |
7.5 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Wednesday |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Thursday |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Friday |
9.30 |
5.00 |
7.5 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Saturday |
9.30 |
5.00 |
7.5 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Sunday |
10.00 |
4.00 |
6.0 |
10.00 |
1.00 |
3.0 |
|
|
Existing Winter Period Hours |
Proposed New Winter Period hours |
||||
|
|
Open |
Close |
hrs per day |
Open |
Close |
hrs per day |
|
Monday |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Tuesday |
10.00 |
3.00 |
5.0 |
10.00 |
1.00 |
3.0 |
|
Wednesday |
10.00 |
3.00 |
5.0 |
10.00 |
3.00 |
5.0 |
|
Thursday |
10.00 |
3.00 |
5.0 |
10.00 |
1.00 |
3.0 |
|
Friday |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
7.0 |
|
Saturday |
10.00 |
3.00 |
5.0 |
10.00 |
3.00 |
5.0 |
|
Sunday |
- |
- |
closed |
- |
- |
closed |
In developing this proposal the Council has been mindful of the following key issues:
-
Any negative effect on customers should be minimised.
-
Equal consideration should be given to all service areas.
-
To minimise ‘single manning’ wherever possible.
-
Provision for school children to visit the library after school hours, should be maintained.
-
The final agreed opening hours should be as simple and memorable as possible.
