AS council tax bills are delivered to homes across Central Bedfordshire, the council is appealing for more residents to switch to paying by direct debit.
Over 65,000 households in Central Bedfordshire, 62% of the total, now pay their council tax by direct debit but the council is keen to point out the advantages of paying by pre-arranged instalments for those that have not yet done so.
Direct Debit offers:
* Convenience – Direct Debit cuts out unnecessary payment journeys saving you time, money, cheques and stamps.
* Choice - You can choose from four monthly payment dates and pay over 10 or 12 months to suit your budget
* Peace of mind – you know that your bill will be paid, without worrying about missed or late payments if you forget or are away when your payment is due.
Councillor Maurice Jones, Executive Member for Corporate Resources at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “One of the central aims of our budget for 2012/2013 is for us to make back office savings through reviewing our costs and changing the way we work, to avoid putting pressure on residents’ already strained budgets and ensure frontline services are protected. This is an example of one of the ways in which we are looking to reduce our costs, as the price per household of a direct debit payment is 8p, compared to £10 for someone who pays in person/by post.”
To further help residents, Central Bedfordshire Council has not increased its share of the council tax bill, for a second year running. The council advises anyone who is struggling to pay their bill to check if they are entitled to benefits and discounts.
Information on this is in the leaflet included with the bill. This leaflet also explains to residents how their council tax is calculated as well as how their money is spent on council and other services.
For more information about your council tax bill or advice on how to set up your direct debt visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/counciltax.
You can find out more about how the council sets its budget and what we spend your money on by watching our YouTube video featuring Councillor Maurice Jones on http://youtu.be/DeZntJAQd0c