Birmingham City Council’s cabinet committee has approved plans to build a hub that would combine council and healthcare customer advice at Sparkbrook in the south of Birmingham.

The joint shared services hub and PCT health centre, which was approved at a cabinet meeting last week, is awaiting final approval from the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust before work begins in July 2010.

If the  property is delivered to deadline, it will open in early 2012 and aim to deliver:

• A Customer Service Centre where people can access a council help and advice
• A community library with integrated IT based health exchange
• A range of health facilities including GPs, dental service, health visitors, midwife, school nurse and a pharmacy
• A community function with meeting and training rooms
• Serviced office space for local start up businesses

The centre will replace the existing Family Centre on Farm Road and neighbourhood offices at Sparkbrook, Sparkhill and Edgbaston. It is unclear whether these properties will be repurposed or sold.

Councillor Neville Summerfield, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It is set to be a shining example of how services can be further improved when partners join forces and work together.”

The proposal fits with the government’s Total Place agenda, which has resulted in a rise in the number of shared service properties offered by councils, such as the Kent Gateway project (pictured).

The Birmingham proposal is part of Birmingham City Council’s business transformation programme, which is being delivered in partnership with Service Birmingham.

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