CALLINGTON will be the first council in Cornwall to host a new self-serve information service, replacing the One Stop Shop facility later this month.

This will be the first service to transfer down to a town council as part of Cornwall Council’s library and One Stop Shop devolution programme, which is helping councils and communities take over local ownership, management and control of services and assets, at a time of unprecedented budget challenges for local government.

The new, free, self-service facilities include two computers for accessing Cornwall Council services online, a phone to contact council services and a post box for mail for council services.

The new council information service will be housed in Callington Town Hall and will be available from Monday, September 26 with assistance to help customers use the facilities on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am to 1.30pm and closed to Thursday and Saturday.

Andrew Long, Cornwall councillor for Callington, said: ‘It is no secret that government cuts to local council funding is affecting many areas. The residents in the sparsely populated area around Callington rely on services such as the One Stop Shop and library and the town council has worked hard together with Cornwall Council to ensure that these services remain, at least in some form, for the community to see.

‘We would all have preferred the current system to remain the same, but the reality is that with 40 per cent needed in the service, we have to accept that some things will change. We will work together to ensure, as best we can, that the new service works for the community.

‘The town council has been very proactive in ensuring services, cut elsewhere in The Duchy, are preserved and in the past few years have stepped in to save the public toilets in the town as well as taking over grass cutting and weeding.’

‘Thanks should also go to the volunteers who have applied to provide a meet and greet service once the self-service facility is up and running; another example of the community coming together when needed.’

Mark Smith, Portreeve and mayor of the town, said: ‘Callington is not only home to around 6,000 people but is a regional centre for a number of smaller villages and settlements.

‘The town offers a diverse range of shops and businesses, a variety of attractions such as the mural trail and is a lead council in sustaining, enhancing and devolving services where possible.

‘The town hall complex already provides excellent facilities for our community.

‘However, we recognise and appreciate that access to Cornwall Council is changing, to reflect the modern way of working and their budget constraints.

‘We are happy to be able to host the new Cornwall Council Information Service in an effort to keep access to all services for our residents.’

Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council cabinet member for communities who is also responsible for library and One Stop Shop services, said: ‘We are very grateful to Callington Town Council for hosting a new information service that will replace the current One Stop Shop.

‘The new facility at the town hall will be self-service with support from library and One Stop Shop staff for three months and after that volunteers will assist people to use the new self-serve facilities.

‘We will still be working with our residents to resolve issues and we can arrange face to face meetings at a mutually convenient time and location if necessary.

‘The town council have recently taken over two public toilets in Callington and I applaud their enthusiasm and positive approach to providing and safeguarding public services for their community.’

As more customers are choosing to access council services online and by phone, the Callington office will no longer be able to take financial payments like rent and council tax, although everyone will still be able to make payments online on the council’s website www.cornwall.gov.uk as well as by phone, direct debit and using ‘All Pay’ machines in the post office and local shops.

The town hall office, on New Road, Callington, is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm.