Cash Desks to be Removed from Neath Port Talbot Council Buildings

Cash desks are to be removed from all council-run buildings in Neath Port Talbot in the coming months following a decision from council bosses at a monthly cabinet meeting.
The decision will see the permanent closure of two cash desks in Neath and Port Talbot Civic Centres due to “demand for the cash desks being significantly diminished,” and after comparing the current service provisions to other neighbouring local authorities.
A review of the services provided at the cash desks showed that they are mostly used by residents to pay council tax, parking, and business rates. It added that over the course of the six month review period a total of 78 people were recorded using the cash office services, an average of only 13 customers per month.
The report has also included alternative arrangements to the cash desk services in the future which will now include payments being made on-line or by cheque.
It would also see any “vacant and relief posts to be deleted from the structure,” with remaining staff staying in post to carry out any internal
cashiering duties.
The report read: “Should members of the public attend the civic buildings with the intention of utilising the cash desks Customer Service staff will re-direct to
alternative methods of payments available as outlined.
“Customers wishing to pay by card will be directed to the council’s website payment portal or to the automated payment line to make the payment or to the local post office.
“Cheque payments will be able to be accepted and forward to the accountancy team for processing. Any persons wishing to make payment by cash will be directed to the post office should the service allow payment by this method, the majority of payments can now be made at all local post offices.”
It is hoped that the closure of the cash offices will save the local authority around £52,000 per year, as part of savings towards what Neath Port Talbot Council expects  could be £48 million worth of budget pressures over the next few years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​