BROMSGROVE’S Customer Service Centre opening hours could be reduced under a new proposal, it has been revealed.

The district council’s cabinet is to consider not opening the facility, based at the Dolphin Centre in School Drive, on Saturday mornings.

The plan has been drawn up following a report into the use of the centre.

It showed that in 2012, into this year, just 62 customers contacted the centre on an average Saturday - compared to 465 on a weekday.

The council say this low customer demand does not warrant putting specialists in place at the weekend.

Instead, the plan is for resources to be focused to meet the increasing customer queries during the week, when specialists in benefits and council tax are on hand.

The report is set to be discussed by the authority’s cabinet at its next meeting on Wednesday, September 4. If approved, it will feature on the agenda of the next full council meeting, scheduled for September 25.

Should the proposal be given the green light, the opening hours change would be implemented from January 4 next year.

Councillor Mark Bullivant, whose portfolio covers customer services, said: “We are transforming our services in a bid to save money and to meet our customers’ needs.

“We already encourage customers needing help with benefits or council tax to contact us during the week when an expert is available and as most payments are made by telephone, our 24/7 payment line could be used.

“While we appreciate the changes may inconvenience a few people, they will be given alternative ways of doing their business with us.”