Job losses fear as cashier services face axe

UNION leaders have warned that planned changes to council payment services will make it harder to pay bills and result in job losses.

Next month, senior Rotherham councillors will decide on proposals to remove the cashier service from four neighbourhood offices, with the loss of two or three jobs.

Instead, householders will be asked to pay at PayPoints or electronically or travel increased distances to other Rotherham Borough Council offices.

Val Broomhead, convenor at UNISON Rotherham, said: “We are concerned about these changes for several reasons.

“Not only the cuts to council jobs and how staff are being treated, but that removing these services will see the decline and potential closure of the neighbourhood offices in the longer run.

“The suggested alternatives do not consider the personal service and additional support offered by cashiers, and particularly access difficulties for the elderly or people with disabilities.

“This will have an extra impact on residents who rely on local services to stay debt free and tackle other community concerns.”

Similar proposals were made and rejected in 2008 and UNISON is arguing that the problems raised then have still not been addressed.

UNISON Rotherham has written to all councillors urging them to reject the proposals and is asking residents to sign a petition and write to their own ward councillors.

A council spokesman said: “We are looking at proposals to extend the options available to customers for the payment of council tax and rent.

“We are looking at a proposal to introduce payment facilities at more than 140 new outlets across Rotherham using customer service centres, Post Offices and Paypoint locations.

“The proposal would mean that neighbourhood offices would no longer take payments.

“This will ensure that making payments is as simple as possible for everyone across the borough.

“However, direct debit remains our preferred payment option.

“If the proposal is accepted by Cabinet, we will be contacting residents and tenants regarding the plans to help them through the process.”

A report is due to be presented to Cabinet on June 8.

To sign the petition, contact UNISON on 01709 376933.