Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The cash office located at the Municipal Offices be permanently closed, as demand on the Council’s payment office has been reducing year on year;

2.    A comprehensive communications plan be created to sign post customers to alternative payment arrangements;

3.    Customers that still need to pay bills in cash be offered the option of paying at Post Office locations within the borough;

4.    The option of making payments by cheque be phased out by December 2021, due to year on year reductions in the number of customers making payments this way.

The Leader of the Council presented the report, in the absence of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services. He acknowledged that a number of things that had been changing anyway had been accelerated by the Covid-19 crisis, and this was one of them. The priority, however, remained the same – to continue providing an excellent service in whatever way customers need them, retaining the option of face-to-face services.

Cash offices had been forced to shut during the crisis, and the possibility of using the Post Office for cash payments was explored – thus simultaneously boosting the Post Office network. Officers had reported that these alternative methods worked perfectly well. He emphasised that the sooner the decision was taken, the better, as the cash offices were already closed.

Judy Hibbert, Customer and Support Services Manager, agreed that the Covid-19 crisis had made it an easy decision. The move followed national trends relating to self-service payments, and it was the right time to make the move.

The Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment emphasised that the council must focus on its residents, and that this report did that. Services must be protected, and the way to do that was by reviewing the service offered, and streamlining and improving it where needed.

The Cabinet Member Finance added that it would particularly benefit vulnerable residents, by making key services easier to access and simpler to use.

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety agreed that the Covid-19 crisis had accelerated a number of changes in a positive way, and that he believed the new arrangements would be an improvement.

The Chief Executive added his thanks to the officers involved.

The Leader moved to a vote, which was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The cash office located at the Municipal Offices be permanently closed, as demand on the Council’s payment office has been reducing year on year;

2.    A comprehensive communications plan be created to sign post customers to alternative payment arrangements;

3.    Customers that still need to pay bills in cash be offered the option of paying at Post Office locations within the borough;

4.    The option of making payments by cheque be phased out by December 2021, due to year on year reductions in the number of customers making payments this way.