West Dunbartonshire Council offices reopened to the public yesterday for the first time in almost two years.
Measures brought in in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic saw access to the local authority’s Church Street headquarters heavily restricted, with staff working from home as per Scottish Government guidance.
However, a phased-return to the office started in early February, with staff now back in the building – and other council workplaces – as restrictions continue to be loosened.
At a meeting of the council’s audit committee last week, Victoria Rogers, WDC’s chief officer for people and technology, said that the reopening was on schedule – but that residents would initially have to book meetings in advance.
She said: “In respect of service delivery, public access is expected to begin from March 7 and will initially be on an appointment-only basis, to ensure the safety of all.”
The majority of the council’s office-based workforce will be working in a hybrid workstyle, meaning a mixture of online, virtual, hybrid and face-to-face meetings and activities.
A paper presented to the committee added: ‘As things settle, patterns may emerge around best practice for different activities and protocols/guidance and training will be adapted and/or developed to reflect and support this.’
Some Covid measures will remain in place, with everyone visiting asked to adhere to one-metre social distancing and to continue wearing masks in communal areas.
Staff are also being asked to continue to take regular lateral flow tests.
