Wrexham Council review on use of cash offices

Published date: 18 June 2010 | Published by: Garth ApThomas

 

WREXHAM Council has moved to reassure the public that no decision has yet been taken on whether its cash offices are to be shut down.

Chief finance and performance officer Mark Owen confirmed the authority was reviewing its income collection arrangements.

However, he said nothing had been decided after the Leader was contacted by a member of the public over the future of the offices on Lambpit Street.

He said: “It is stressed that no decision has been taken to close offices.

“The changes to the central cash office arrangements will go to the council’s executive board in the autumn for consideration and will include comments from users of the current services. Housing estate office arrangements have been reviewed but again no decision has been taken.

“Part of the review of income is considering if it is preferable for the council to operate its own facilities for cash collection or to utilise more modern payment facilities such as by phone, card, internet and direct debit.

“Clearly, many organisations have moved to a direct debit basis which is generally easier for the customer as once it is set up then it operates automatically.

“We are currently encouraging more people to consider switching to direct debit and to stop using cheques. Visitors to the Lambpit Street cash office are being informed of the benefits of making this change.

“However, it is recognised that this will not suit all and that some may still want to utilise cash. In such cases then alternative facilities would be available, such as post offices and other outlets with PayPoint facilities.”

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  1. Posted by: a cahill at 11:23 on 18 June 2010 Report

    They should seriously consider closing estate offices and getting rid of the usless Housin Officers, yesterday I reported an assault on 10yr old by an adult to Caia Housing Office and was told that they can't do anything even though the person is a lodger at his sisters house,

  2. Posted by: Yachydda at 12:31 on 18 June 2010 Report

    should have gone to specksavers..... then the police station.

  3. Posted by: Yachydda at 14:23 on 18 June 2010 Report

    a cahill: its not the council's job to look at inncidents like these... its the police and then social services.... housing officers are not trained to deal with this type of complaint...I dont think its any reason to close local offices down.

  4. Posted by: Roland Cleth at 14:30 on 18 June 2010 Report

    Must agree with Yachydda - not the Housing Officers' problem. Why do cash offices exist in this day and age anyway? Anyone receiving money must, by now, have a bank account so the necessary mandates can be set up easily. It would also help stop a number of defaulters and irregular payers.

  5. Posted by: Yachydda at 17:01 on 18 June 2010 Report

    Roland Cleth: No not everyone has a bank account....I know loads of people including my wife who cannot get a bank account...and for no reason of there own. they dont drive they dont travel abroad etc etc...its suprising how many are basically stuck with cash.... others prefer cash because they dont trust the banks.

  6. Posted by: pcspik at 17:59 on 18 June 2010 Report

    Roland: As someone who has to pay for care from Social Services I receive a bill every 4 weeks. The option they give me is either a) to phone a special number and give my bank details over the phone or b) to take the cash & the letter to the cash office. Direct Debit and Cheques are not a payment option with Social Services. If I dont pay for my care they will send the balliffs around & I dont trust giving my bank details over the phone. If you have the answer, let me know.

  7. Posted by: greenflyer at 21:44 on 18 June 2010 Report

    ARE THE OFFICES IN RHOS BEING SHUT AS WELL? AS THEYRE DUE TO BE BUILT ON ?

  8. Posted by: a cahill at 10:17 on 19 June 2010 Report

    yachydda.... under the terms of the Tenancy Agreement the Council have the responsibility to ensure that Tenants don't interfere with the peaceful existence of other tenants and are responsible for the actions of people they have living with them... so it is their responsibilty to take appropriate action when they are made aware of issues that are affecting the rights of tenants....cont

  9. Posted by: a cahill at 10:26 on 19 June 2010 Report

    There is also the issue of the partnership between Council and Police to prevent anti social behaviour,the housing officer said she had the CBMs number in her grey book but told me I could get it off the poster in the main office.. she also agreed that it was the Councils responsibility to deal issues such as this

  10. Posted by: a cahill at 10:36 on 19 June 2010 Report

    The partnership... much publicised between police and council is nothing more than a con job foisted on tenants for publicity purposes. The fact that a Counci Officer actually failed to adhere to the terms of the supposedly legally binding contract shows only one thing.... that is up to the Tenants to sort out problems of this nature in their own way..... and is what these well paid blame shifters want

  11. Posted by: a cahill at 10:44 on 19 June 2010 Report

    If these people don't have the ability to understand the basic rules set down by WCBC then what is the point in paying them to sit on their backsides and only have to deal with Tenants when they are allocating properties..repairs are done from a central location by Phone so why can't this work be done in the same way with less staff and less cost

  12. Posted by: sbw123 at 09:11 on 21 June 2010 Report

    The council are looking to close the main cash office by April next year. Not sure where the 'no decision has been made' comes from as it seems it has already been decided.

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