From picking up recycling bags to getting help updating your CV for a new job to saying ‘I do’ – Brentwood Borough Council are exploring the possibilities of the Town Hall being a community hub for the Borough.

Speaking about the plans, The Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, Councillor Louise McKinlay, said: “We are starting to have those meaningful discussions with Essex County Council and Job Centre Plus about bringing some of their services into the Town Hall.

"This cements our commitment to exploring opportunities to make the Town Hall a more sustainable building and turning it into a real community hub.

"Whilst we are talking to Essex County Council about them bringing their Registry Office Services like wedding ceremonies here we are also keen to explore the exciting opportunity of possibly bringing the library service in here too.

"The Town Hall is already home to some voluntary and charity organisations and of course the third sector are involved in our discussions too.

"These plans are about making the most of the Town Hall by not just filling it up – but getting as many services and organisations under one roof which could really benefit Brentwood and our residents.

"We aren’t the first Council to do it and this joined up approach already works elsewhere like Basildon and Colchester.”

Cllr Roger Hirst, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Libraries, Planning & Environment added: "We at Essex County Council are looking to create community hubs across the county in as many of our customer service points as makes sense in each location.

"In Colchester the library, Colchester Borough Council services, the CAB and some NHS are co-located, which helps us extend opening hours and means residents can access much of what they need in one place.

"We would like to mirror that - or even go a stage further - in Brentwood."