THE Barrow benefits office formerly threatened with closure has been saved following a hard-fought local campaign.
Barrow Phoenix House will remain open until 2023, the government has today confirmed. It comes after a huge public outcry following the announcement of plans to shut the facility down in 2018.
In January, the Department of Work and Pensions announced plans to close a number of its job centres and processing sites and move staff to other bases. Phoenix House was earmarked as one of those for the chop.
But employment minister, Damian Hinds, today wrote to Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock to confirm the u-turn.
In his letter, he said: “Since January, we have been undertaking detailed planning and negotiating new leases with our landlords and partners. We always said that our proposals were not final and we would consult and assess before making final decisions. This has been a very complex commercial process.
“For the majority of our sites we are now able to confirm the plans set out in January, and I have provided a further Written Ministerial Statement today outlining where changes have been made to these. We had proposed to close Barrow Phoenix House in 2018, but we will now be retaining the office until 2023.”
The Centre for Health and Disability Assessment (CHDA) staff and services currently based at Barrow Phoenix House will relocate to Barrow Jobcentre, Mr Hinds added.
The news has been welcomed by Mr Woodcock, who worked with local staff, unions and campaigners to fight for the future of Phoenix House. In March, protesters took to the streets of Barrow to make their voices heard.
Hailing their victory, Mr Woodcock said: “This is brilliant news for the staff and the town, and is a testament to the committed campaign run by the Barrow workforce and their PCS trade union reps. The government was won over by our case, that vulnerable people like asbestosis industrial injury claimants would suffer if the expertise of local workers was lost.
“I am delighted for all the staff at Phoenix House who will now be able to put this period of dreadful uncertainty behind them and stay in Barrow using their skills on behalf of some of those most in need around the country.”
Dear John
In March 2018, DWP’s PFI estate contract with Telereal Trillium expires. This 20-year contract covers the majority of DWP’s current property portfolio of over 900 sites. This has given us the opportunity to review which offices we will need in the future, taking account of the increased use of our online services, the reforms we will be implementing over the coming years, and the anticipated demand on our services.
In January 2017, we announced proposals for the future of our estate including both our jobcentres and ‘back of house’ processing sites. This move is part of DWP’s continued drive to deliver public services in more innovative and cost effective ways.
We have sought to ensure that the estate from which we operate continues to meet the changing needs of our business and our claimants.
Since January, we have been undertaking detailed planning and negotiating new leases with our landlords and partners. We always said that our proposals were not final and we would consult and assess before making final decisions. This has been a very complex commercial process. This, and the pre-election restrictions, meant that we were unable to share information about specific offices until now.
For the majority of our sites we are now able to confirm the plans set out in January, and I have provided a further Written Ministerial Statement today outlining where changes have been made to these. We had proposed to close Barrow Phoenix House in 2018, but we will now be retaining the office until 2023. The Centre for Health and Disability Assessment (CHDA) staff and services currently based at Barrow Phoenix House will relocate to Barrow Jobcentre.
As you will already be aware, customers can claim the cost of public and private transport and parking from their current address. Taxi fares can also be claimed if customers have a letter from a medical professional if they cannot travel by public transport. Home visits can be arranged if travel is difficult.
We recognise that DWP colleagues are our most valuable resource and we will support them where these changes directly affect them. The review of our estate is not about cutting jobs or reducing services: it will not lead to a reduction to the number of front line jobcentre staff.
If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact your local Jobcentre Plus District Manager, details attached.
Yours ever,
Damian Hinds MP
Minister for Employment
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