Torbay Council has announced details of service availability over the Christmas and New Year period.

Information on a wide range of services can be accessed by visiting the council website at www.torbay.gov.uk

Opening time for following service areas are listed below:

Connections Offices - Torquay, Paignton and Brixham

Torquay and Paignton Connections offices will be open 9am to 5pm, as normal, over the Christmas period.  Brixham Connections will be open 9am to 4pm.  All Connections offices will be closed on 25 and 28 December, and 1 January.

The call centre will also be open as normal, 9am to 5pm and can be used to book appointments for the registrars’ office.

Libraries

Torbay Libraries will be closed from Friday 25 December to Monday 28 December inclusive, and Friday 1 January.

Refuse and Recycling Collections

Details of refuse and recycling collections to properties around Torbay are as follows: 

Normal Day of collection	Revised day of collection
Monday 21 December	Saturday 19 December
Tuesday 22 December	Monday 21 December
Wednesday 23 December	Tuesday 22 December
Thursday 24 December	Wednesday 23 December
Friday 25 December	Thursday 24 December
Monday 28 December	Monday 28 December
Tuesday 29 December	Tuesday 29 December
Wednesday 30 December	Wednesday 30 December
Thursday 31 January	Thursday 31 January
Friday 1 January	Saturday 2 January

Additional Services

Benefits, Council Tax and Business Rates

Enquiries on 01803 207201 will be open normal operating hours, 9am to 5pm, excluding 25 and 28 December, and 1 January.

Electoral Services

Electoral services enquiries will be answered on 01803 208008 9am to 5pm, excluding 25 and 28 December, and 1 January.

Registrars

Registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnership, appointment booking service will be available 9am to 5pm on 01803 207130. This service will be closed on 25 and 28 of December, and Thursday 1 January

Children's Services

Children’s Services will be available normal hours. The Family Services Information reception will be operating as normal excluding Thursday 24 and 31 of December where the service will be closing at 4pm. Bank holidays and on Christmas Day the service will not be available.

Enquiries can be made on 01803 208100. For people who do not have access to a phone, the normal walk-in arrangements will be available via the Children’s Services reception and information area next to Tor Hill House and opposite Torquay Connections.

Housing Options

Housing options service enquiries on 01803 208723. This service will be available on Thursday 24 December and 31 December until 3pm. This service will be unavailable on 25 and 28 December, and 1 January. People phoning outside of these office hours will hear an answer phone message giving details of how to get assistance if they are homeless that night. The Emergency duty service will be available from 16.30 to 09.00 throughout the holiday period for anyone who is actually homeless at this time.  The service can be contacted on 03004564876. This service should not be used for non emergency enquiries.

Crisis Support

The Crisis Support Team will provide a service over the Christmas period during the Council’s Christmas opening hours. There will be no service on 25, 28 December 2015 and 1 January 2016 when the office is closed. Applications for daily living expenses received when the office is closed will be looked at on the next working day. Other claims will be considered within 7 working days.  Please visit www.torbay.gov.uk/crisis support for details of how to make a claim.