Three Ross-shire service points to shut
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HIGHLAND Council customer service points at Muir of Ord, Fortrose and Lochcarron are to close, councillors agreed today (Monday).
They will be replaced by self-service machines in local libraries.
The service point at Invergordon will stay open but opening hours will be cut to two half days per week.
Service points in Alness, Dingwall, Gairloch, Tain and Ullapool have been saved from the axe, however, and will remain open as before.
Three Highland service points will shut completely with no access points being provided - Acharacle, Hilton and Durness.
The shake-up is expected to deliver savings of £160,000 per annum for the council.
Across the Highlands, 15 posts, mainly part-time, and six team-leader positions, will be lost through the move.
Nine job plus two managerial positions will be created as part of the restructure.
The council’s deputy chief executive Michelle Morris said staff affected would be offered other positions or may take up voluntary redundancy or early retirement.
The council has a zero compulsory redundancy policy.
All changes will be made by the end of this year and staff have been notified.
Critics of the cuts say people who have no computer access would be badly affected by the loss of their nearest service point and elderly people will struggle to reach alternative service points elsewhere.
Ms Morris insisted customers were changing the way they choose to contact the local authority and more people were demanding access to services online, by telephone and outside of normal working hours.
Her report to councillors said: "Demand for services at some service points is declining and at the same time the council needs to continue to ensure its service delivery is efficient."
