That forecast was made by Coun Mike Campion (pictured) during Brigg Town Council’s monthly meeting. He was responding to comments made by Coun Ann Eardley, who expressed disappointment at North Lincolnshire’s proposal to close the Buttercross and relocate the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) to Scunthorpe.
Coun Eardley said Brigg’s “flagship” TIC continued to give excellent service.She was very concerned the building’s closure would have a detrimental affect on the town centre and called on fellow councillors to do all they could to keep the TIC in the Buttercross.
It is now expected Coun Eardley’s suggestion will be discussed at length at a future Town Council or Policy Committee meeting.
A spokesman for Coun Mark Kirk, Labour Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, confirmed Coun Campion’s conclusion. The spokesman told Brigg Blog a £300,000 investment “would bring everything under one roof” – probably during the 2011/12 financial year.
During the Town Council discussions it was suggested the current Library building is actually leased and not in public ownership.
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Is the community interested and big enough to take over the library themselves?
ReplyDeleteIt could be one of these things that needs a Big Society take-over.......For example, a community-led library could seek second-hand book donations; combine facilities with, for example, regular meeting place for local groups; coffee shop, Wifi centre; an art gallery...and the whole concept has integrated pixs/artefacts of local history/archaeology......save money with the coffee shop person stamping the books!!!!
The idea of combining several council services into one place doesn't sound too bad. If they were all at the Angel it would bring more life into the Market Place, and there is the potential for decent savings. Save Hewson House for backroom/non-public council work, and make the Angel the "town hall", so to speak.
ReplyDeleteKen's idea could also be included, for though it would still be council-run, other services might be able to find space. That's a question though: how much space is there at the Angel, and how much is being used?
Be a Devil's Advocate:
ReplyDeleteYou have made a significant point, Sova.....rather than losing staff, make savings by consolidating services into fewer buildings, or essentially optimising the floor area per employee.
One aspect of private enterprise is that they tend to use the minimum floor area to successfully maximise their objectives. Casual observation suggests that public services are more casual/less stringent in these criteria and even junior staff have a large proximity zone. Similarly, separate departments can have their own separate building, irresspective whether some rooms/space are under/unused. Additionally, the council/public services are normally a 8 to 6 operation, so for the bulk of the day facilities are inactive. For example, why do we need a separate fire station and police station in Brigg? Could, with modification, these services combine within the same campus? Does Brigg TC need part-time administrative facilities in a specifically designated building? Why can't they move into a available space within the main Angel building, thus leaving vacant space for another NLC section to occupy?
Modern technology allows allows much work to be undertaken by computer....in such suitable cases, why not allow NLC employees to work from home?
The public services appear to be operating a system/organisation based upon pen and paper and needs, perhaps to re-jig/re-assess such aspects as work patterns, personal working zones and employee/site/building/room multi-tasking.
For those who believe working from home is a non-starter, think again....What better clock-in do we have that a computer? Employees save money on travel; it allows flexi-working -, which can be assessed by computer.
ReplyDeleteThere are many routine jobs in the public sector that do not demand face-to-face contact and which can be undertaken effectively whether in a broom cupboard, or in the luxury of one's own home. Working from homes allows a wider definition of flexi-time - it allows weekend working and productive evening hours; others could have a mixed office/home routine.
The green issues, the logistics and savings are obvious. Fewer travel to work needs; freeing up of office space and the subsequent consolidation of NLC should make a significant financial impact.