Trafford Council is improving and modernising how it interacts with people to help deliver the best possible services for everyone.
The Council is taking a fresh look at its use of online, telephone, email, and in-person contact, with the aim of creating a simpler, more joined up experience for users.
To help, residents, businesses, visitors and partners are being asked to complete a survey giving feedback on their recent contact with the Council and what the end result was.
Cllr Jo Harding, Executive Member for Finance, Change & Governance, said:
“We all know that making a good first impression matters and what you do and say is as important as looking the part. The same goes for the Council and how we first interact with residents, businesses, partners and other organisations - what we call our 'front door' needs to be welcoming, accessible and provide the right information, at the right time of their need.
“A consistent, user-friendly front door can improve how we meet diverse needs while also helping us to achieve the vision for Trafford set out in our Corporate Plan.
“We want to make better use of online services so that dealing with the Council is quicker, easier, and more convenient. By moving more simple enquiries online, our staff will have more time to support people with complex questions or those who may be more vulnerable and need extra help.”
The Council’s Contact Centre and Blue Badge process has already been involved in initial improvements and work is underway in Exchequer Services. The Council unveiled a new-look website in December, and you can now apply for a resident parking permit online, making the process faster and simpler.
Making the best use of technology will be a key focus as will identifying where processes should be automated.
The Corporate Front Door initiative forms part of the Council’s Finance and Transformational Change Programme and feeds into all of its corporate priorities, but most specifically supports its ambition of ‘healthy and independent lives for everyone’ by allowing residents to access the right information and advice and have better signposting to the services they need.
The Council’s front door ambitions align with the Greater Manchester Live Well initiative to ensure that great everyday support is available in every neighbourhood, with Live Well Spaces acting as part of the front door.
Anyone with ideas or suggestions, can email CFD@trafford.gov.uk.