Council offices change in £1.75 million project
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A £1.75 million project to improve council offices in Banff and make it easier for the public to access services is to take effect from Monday, July 27.
The scheme is bringing several council teams together in the refurbished Banff Town House on Low Street, with a customer service point providing face-to-face support and guidance for local residents.
Service point advisers will be able to provide customers with access to a range of council services and resolve customer queries at the first point of contact.
Chairman of the Banff and Buchan area committee, Councillor John Cox, said: "This transformation of an outstanding historic building is great news for the town, delivering real benefit for the local economy. The new council services will bring people back into the town centre, and the refurbishment works at the Town House will definitely provide a better experience for staff and customers alike.
"Having taken the opportunity to see the completed works, I am very impressed and thank all who have been involved in the renovations."
The project is part of Aberdeenshire Council’s corporate asset management plan, supported by the authority’s workSPACE strategy, with the construction and refurbishment work undertaken by Morrison Construction.
It has involved upgrades to Seafield House, along with works to 2 Carmelite Street/38 Low Street and the Town House, improving access for disabled people and improving toilet facilities.
The recently completed Seafield House now accommodates health and social care adult services teams, for the provision of integrated services to clients.
The scheme has also involved upgrading offices at 32 Low Street and St Leonards to create an office for infrastructure services staff.
This will provide space for teams from planning and development control; economic development; roads and landscape services; environmental health; property, and waste management.
As St Leonard’s will not be a public office, members of the public are asked to visit the Town House to access services.
The customer service point and housing and benefits team will be available from the Town House from 11am next Monday, July 27, with the other teams in place by Monday, August 3.
To accommodate the move, the housing and benefits team office will close at 3pm this Friday.
Members of the public are advised to check with local offices for further information.
Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s policy and resources committee, Councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes, said: "This has been a fairly ambitious project to make sure we are making the best use of our council offices and to help customers access services in a consistent and convenient manner.
"It has been developed in a way that aims to encourage custom in the town centre and support wider regeneration of the town."
