by Alan Quick

AT the Full Council meeting of Mid Devon District Council held on Wednesday, August 30, councillors were asked to discuss the motion put forward to an earlier Scrutiny committee by Crediton Town Mayor and District Councillor Frank Letch that the cessation of face-to-face Customer Services Surgeries be reviewed.

MDDC closed its monthly surgery service operated at the Council Offices, Market Street, Crediton, to allow it: “to make better use of staff resource”, on July 31.

Before it was closed, the council said the visitor numbers for 2016-17 were 359, which, it added, equates to an average of 12-14 customers during the four-hour period that a member of staff is available at the location.

A council spokesman added that: “These changes are necessary to ensure I am making the best use of staff time and that I can provide the best service within budget to all our customers throughout Mid Devon across a range of access channels.”

OBJECTION

Crediton Town Council is strongly objecting to the withdrawal of the service and has been engaging with MDDC to try to reverse this decision.

The Town Council is asking for town organisations and individuals who have used the service to help it in its efforts to retain the service.

If you object to the closure the Town Council asks that you please write to MDDC’s Chief Executive, Mr Stephen Walford, either by email to: [email protected] or by letter to Phoenix House, Tiverton, EX16 6PP.

The Town Council asks that it receives copies of communications with MDDC and these can also be sent to the “Courier” for publication to: [email protected] or write to: The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.

DISAPPOINTED

Crediton Town Clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, previously told the “Courier”: “I am disappointed that MDDC has decided to withdraw this well-used service without any consultation.

“We received details of the intention to close the surgery which is particularly useful to many people, especially those seeking advice about housing, Council Tax, refuse and other queries, benefits and the scanning in of documents required for housing benefit or reviews or to present identification.

“If the service is withdrawn I can see many people asking whether Mid Devon District Council is really serving the people of Mid Devon?

“The surgery service has run for just 15 months since Mid Devon District Council closed its Crediton office and on occasion we have people queuing out the door waiting to see the member of staff on duty.

“In addition, MDDC has recently cut its funding to the Citizens’ Advice service in Mid Devon, which means that the service run here at the Council Offices in Crediton operates now just one-day-a-week.

“We have also lost the Plough and Share service, which has gone into receivership, which is another service lost.

“I think it is disgusting and MDDC should re-consider and continue with this much-needed surgery service.”

MDDC has also decided to withdraw a similarly-run surgery service at Cullompton.

MONTHLY SERVICE?

After some serious debate the motion discussed on August 30 was passed 18-11.

It was recommended that the council be asked to look at the idea of diminishing the level of face-to-face services at Phoenix House, Tiverton, to allow for one monthly session to be provided at Crediton and Cullompton.

The Crediton Town Clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, will liaise with Cullompton Town Council to draw up a meaningful timetable to have officers look at the challenge and come up with a more equal and acceptable solution, MDDC confirmed.