Council Supports HDC One-Stop-Shop

Hastings District Council is looking to overhaul its customer service systems and bolster the local building industry with the construction of a new customer service centre.

Yesterday councillors voted to include the $5m project in the Long Term Council Community Plan consultation - which would see a one-stop-shop customer service centre built onto Council’s existing Lyndon Road Administration Building, implementation of a customer service computer system and process changes.

Chief Executive, Ross McLeod, says currently council’s service centres are spread over several floors and buildings, with customers being asked to go from department to department for information. This systems work against our own people who go to their best efforts to help customers.

The new system would see staff and the public come to one central point and enquiries tracked from start to solution.

“Feedback, from the community and our own studies, shows our customer service processes are not up to scratch. This research has been undertaken over a long period and is essential to improving customer service across the organisation.”

“There were some concerns it may not be the right time to spend money on a large project but Hawke’s Bay is in danger of loosing its construction industry to recession. There scarcely seems a better time to undertake this sort of project.”

“This is exactly the sort of stimulatory measure Central Government is pushing forward on a national scale, in building schools and roads for example.”

Deputy Mayor, Cynthia Bowers, says there are clear benefits to taking on this project now.

“Not only will it dramatically improve how Council interacts with ratepayers but we can take advantage of competitive construction rates which haven’t been available until now.

“The flow-on effects to the community in terms of the construction industry and employment are immediate – it makes good financial sense.”

“I am happy to see that within a conservative projected rate increase of just 1.2% Council is managing to action three major projects, all with significant benefits to the community and business fraternity.”

“Council is looking at carrying out a $3m footpath renewal project over three years, new public toilets at the west end of the CBD and the upgrade of existing CBD toilets. These and the Customer Service Centre are strategic projects which Council has brought to the top of the list to help the local economy.”