Why has the council made this decision?
The change in the phone line opening hours comes as the council has to make tough decisions in order to balance its budget and avoid going bankrupt in future. At the same time, the council is looking to provide more online services as residents' needs change.
This change will save over £119,000 and allow us to improve digital services and put more help in at lunchtime when many working people call.
For more information about the decision you can read the Cabinet report or view the latest news here: https://news.cotswold.gov.uk/news/district-council-to-trial-reduced-call-centre-opening-hours
What happens if I want to telephone the council between 2pm and 5pm?
Residents can still access our website 24/7 and our face-to-face services at Trinity Road and Moreton Area Centre will be open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. If you can’t use these options you can call back the next working day.
Customers who call after 2pm will hear a recorded telephone message advising them that the telephone lines are closed. Customers will be directed to the council’s website to complete enquiries online or to call back during our opening hours from 9am to 2pm Monday to Friday.
How will someone in an emergency situation contact the council after 2pm?
For emergency situations such as homelessness support or reporting dangerous structures we have an out of hours service to make sure we keep people safe. When people call out of hours there will be recorded instructions. This service will only be for emergencies and not for other council services.
Are the council also closing their face-to-face offices at 2pm?
No, our face-to face services at Trinity Road and Moreton Area Centre will remain open until 5pm, Monday to Friday, to support anyone who needs that service.
Our customer services team will also still be responding to the council's main email address, website and live-chat enquiries on the website up until 5pm, Monday to Friday.
I cannot report a missed waste collection until after 4pm, but the phone lines are closed at 2pm, what am I expected to do?
Your options are:
- The quickest and easiest way to report a missed collection is online as this sends the report directly to our waste contractor Ubico: cotswold.gov.uk/report-it
- You can also email customer services or report via our live chat
- Alternatively, you can telephone the next morning between 9am and 2pm on 01285 623000
- Cotswold District Council’s Trinity Road and Moreton Area Centre offices are open until 5pm, Monday to Friday
Location map for the Cirencester office - pdf - 645 Kb