A councillor is pushing for residents to get face to face appointments with the council as the closure of a public customer query desk “gives the wrong impression.”

Councillor Kieran Turner said the continued closure of a customer service desk at John Street “gives the wrong impression that the council is closed for business.”

The Labour councillor asked what “consideration has been given to reopening an in-person appointment-based service for citizens to engage with council services” at a full council meeting yesterday.

Councillor Ricky Bell said there are opportunities for people to arrange face to face appointments.

The city treasurer said the council has evolved and changed the customer contact strategy and this remains under review.

The SNP councillor added : “This change has enabled us to increase digital provision for those who wish to contact the council in that manner. However it is important to be clear that while John Street is no longer open for walk in appointments people can and still do book face to face appointments and if that is required that can be done through the council’s switchboard on 0141 2872000.”

He pointed out alongside Glasgow Life the council offers face to face assistance to navigate online services and appointments can be made at universal credit hubs in libraries across the city.

Issues with missed bins, lighting and other concerns can be reported on the council website, MyGlasgow app and through a phone service.

Labour councillor Turner said that a lot of that information is not reaching constituents.

Referring to an example in his East Centre ward, he told the meeting that a taxi driver was off the road for seven weeks as he was met with a communication delay about a licensing query. He said the taxi driver only had the option to email.

Councillor Bell said he was disturbed to hear about anyone having difficulty contacting the council.

He said he can’t support support the reopening of John Street, however, as it is an expensive way of doing communication and the closure took place after a lot of investigation and consultation He asked councillor Turner to disseminate information to his community about how to contact the council.