The Guardian: The Gateway Approach

Date: Monday 07/09/09

The Guardian teams up with Kent County Council discusses the Gateway approach

The Guardian, in association with Kent County Council, are exploring the Gateway approach to public service delivery. Kent County Council and the 12 district councils in Kent have undertaken a joint venture to offer residents of Kent convenient physical and online access to frontline customer service in a modern retail setting.

The services included in the Gateways which now number eight, with a further eight planned, plus two mobile Gateways include:

* information and self elp, including free internet access, service directory, and payment kiosks
* routine advice and transactions, including bus passes, refuse, parking, and licensing
* surgeries by agencies such as Hi Kent, CAB, NHS
* registrar services for births and deaths maximising the benefits of Tell Us Once service
* cross-agency services, including council tax, benefits, planning, housing, library, adult education and occupational therapy

Gateway is complementary to web, telephone and traditional home-visiting. It unites services under a neutral brand, removing the confusion of lots of public service organisations. Gateway is a destination for the whole community.

Visit the Guardian Site to read more.

If you have enquiries or further interest in the Gateway project please email gateway@kent.gov.uk or call 0845 8 247 202