Issue - meetings

To expand the ability to make payments for Council services across the district, by use of Pay Zones, Post Offices and digital solutions.  This will align with the Corporate Priorities ‘to provide the right services, at the right time and in the right way’.  It will enable residents and businesses greater flexibility in the way they pay (joint report of the Portfolio Holder, Strategy, Governance and Transformation and the Shared Executive Manager for People and Public Protection enclosed).

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Governance and Transformation and the Shared Executive Manager for People and Public Protection which detailed Digital Payment Phase 2 (District Provision), part of the Authority’s Transformation programme.

The proposals within the report detailed how the Authority would expand the ability to make payments for Council services across the district, by use of Pay Point, Post Office and digital solutions.  This proposal would enable residents and businesses greater flexibility in the way that they payed, and aligned with the Corporate Priority of providing the right service at the right time and in the right way.

Members commented that there were some areas of the District that were not covered by these additional payment solutions however it was acknowledged that the locations secured to date still provided thirty more locations for payment than were currently available.  Ward members were encouraged to identify payment locations within their wards to broaden the offer available to the public.

DECISION:

a)    That facilities to make payment for Council services via Pay Point, Post Offices and digital provision be provided;

b)    That the Priory Road cash desk remain open to facilitate the Transformation programme, until the Authority was required to accommodate its third party partners or organisations, or by Autumn 2017; and

c)    That floor walkers are used to assist residents and businesses within the Council reception area, to enable a smooth transition.

(Other options considered:

·         To do nothing.

Reasons for decision:

·         To enable communities to have access to sites closer to their homes and businesses to pay for Council services, and to encourage local residents to use these outlets for additional services by supporting the place to develop and thrive locally;

·         To facilitate the Authority’s Transformation programme and to potentially accommodate third party partners or organisations;

·         Through floor walkers, to provide customers with advice on a greater choice of payment options for Council facilities.)