Computer-savvy Westminster residents saving thousands online (19/10/2007)

Thousands of Westminster residents have wised-up to online permit payments, saving nearly £400,000 of tax payers' money and a projected £200,000 of their own cash.

Almost 70% percent of people renewed their parking permits online this September, compared to just 34% last September. By the end of the financial year, 20,000 people are expected to have taken advantage of the £10 online renewal discount. Computer-savvy residents will also have saved themselves time and effort avoiding a trip to council offices to process applications.

Less paperwork and customer enquiries have created significant savings for Westminster City Council since July 2006, when the online service was launched.

Customers have left encouraging feedback, saying the online service is a welcome innovation and a real pleasure to use.

Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Cllr Danny Chalkley, said:

"This is a great example of harnessing modern technology to get things done quicker and better and deliver savings to tax payers.

"There’s been a marked drop in the amount of queries and complaints coming in and we’ve really freed up staff time and saved costs.

"We are never going to get everyone signed up, but getting nearly 70% is a cracking figure after just 15 months."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Residents can renew online provided their vehicle or addresses details have not changed. They simply log on to the Westminster council website using a password sent to them in their renewal letter, enter a few details and pay. The permit is sent to them the next day. To renew at a council office, drivers need to show vehicle registration and insurance documents, drivers licence and utility bills, regardless of whether their circumstances have changed.