Customers and councillors will formally launch a new era in City of York Council's housing and council tax benefits service today (Thursday, October 25).

Council leader Councillor Rod Hills and executive members Councillor Viv Kind and Councillor Alan Jones will be joined by a group of customers who have all helped to develop the new first-stop shop in the City Finance Centre at Library Square.

The new first-stop shop was opened last month with housing benefit and council tax benefit services all being brought under one roof.

Under the old city centre arrangements the previous housing benefit office for council tenants was at 2, St Leonard's Place and private tenants used the housing benefit office at 10-12, George Hudson Street. Both activities have now been centralised for customer convenience at Library Square. However, the advice centre at 10-12 George Hudson Street is still dealing with social care enquiries, private tenant housing advice and educational services information.

The facilities at Library Square have been totally revamped and expanded to accommodate the new arrangements with today's official opening after an ongoing Best Value review of all revenues and benefits services was launched by the council a year ago.

Councillor Kind and Councillor Jones will open the new advice centre by unveiling a plaque this afternoon. A cake-cutting ceremony will also be held with a cake bearing the council's crest.

Representatives from groups like MIND, Age Concern, the Association of Private Landlords and York Magistrates' Court - also involved in the consultation and development process - will also attend today's ceremony. Councillor Jones, chair of the Best Value members' monitoring panel, said, "This new advice centre represents an important step forward and a real improvement in the service for customers as well as ensuring that we make the best possible use of council resources. It shows that the council's Best Value programme is reaping real results for citizens."

Councillor Kind, executive member for housing, said, "Benefits services are a tremendously important council function and, while these changes will make no difference to the level of people's benefits, they will make a big difference in the quality of the service we provide."

Liz Ackroyd, Best Value review leader, said, "Staff have worked tremendously hard to achieve these changes and are totally committed to providing the best possible service for York citizens.

"Customers and groups like Age Concern, the Benefits Agency and MIND have all been involved in developing the new advice centre. That in itself is an important example of the partnership approach we have adopted at the council."

Last month, the council also introduced advice improvements for all residents in the Acomb area who are now able to use the council's housing office at York Road for all enquiries regarding housing benefit, council tax benefit and council tax billing and payments.

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