Save Time And Do It Online

With a range of new and improved services, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is making it quicker and easier for residents to get online and to get information and get in touch. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Whether you want to book a leisure activity, report an issue, find out your recycling collection day or set up a direct debit for your Council Tax, residents can now do all this and more either via the new RCT Council App or the improved Council website. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council is also investing in its IT infrastructure as part of the wider £23m investment in priority areas to provide free public access wi-fi in libraries and other public buildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Joy Rosser, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Libraries and Heritage, said: “With more and more people getting online, we want to ensure that the Council is accessible across a range of platforms. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the launch of a new app, an improved website as well as the provision free public wi-fi in Libraries and other public buildings, the Council is showing its commitment to supporting residents to get online. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our new bi-lingual app, which is free for Android, Windows and Apple users to download, provides access to a range of services and information on the go. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have also recently redesigned our website to ensure residents can access information about the hundreds of services the Council provides as quickly and easily as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Developments to our website also include simpler e-forms which make it easier for residents to report issues, book and pay for things like leisure classes or set up an e-account for managing Council Tax online. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as benefitting residents, in the challenging financial times we are currently operating in, there are also benefits for the Council of more residents accessing online services and information via the app or the website. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For example, if more people accessed the wide range of available online services rather than ringing our call centre or visiting a One4All centre, the Council could make savings which could then be used to protect frontline services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We know not everyone has a smart phone or can access the internet at home and this is why we are currently investing in our IT infrastructure and providing free public access wi-fi at our libraries and other public access buildings like Leisure Centres, making it easier for more residents to access online services, news and information. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would encourage residents to download the app and visit our website to see the range of services and information available online.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Free public wi-fi has been installed in Council libraries with further work being undertaken improve the broadband speed and to provide access in other public buildings such as leisure centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents can access a range of online services and information via the Council’s app and website www.rctcbc.gov.uk including: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Booking leisure activities
• Finding recycling collection days
• Reporting a change of circumstances in respect of Housing Benefit or Council Tax
• Registering for an e-account for paperless Council Tax billing
• Reporting issues such as fly-tipping, potholes, street light faults etc.

The Council continues to provide an appointment system at its six One4All Centres to deal with more complex queries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​