To keep the council tax rise as low as possible, following two years of no increase in Elmbridge's share of the council tax, the Council has had to make substantial economies.

The following three areas incur substantial costs and the Council is introducing these changes:

• If you pay your council tax at a post office counter

The post office charges a fee for these payments but the Council has always met that charge.

We must now ask customers who wish to carry on paying this way to meet the post office fee themselves. When you make payment using your new payment book post office staff will confirm the fee (we have no control over what they charge). It is understood this is currently £2.40 each time you make a payment.

To avoid this fee you may wish to choose from the alternative options shown below.

• The Cashiers Office at the Civic Centre has been closed permanently from 1st July 2009

This only affects people who come to the Civic Centre to pay. From 1st July 2009 we no longer have facilities to accept cash but you will be able to pay by cheque or postal order. Postal payments will not be affected by the closure.
Alternative options are shown below.

• Payment of council tax and business rates using a payment book at a bank, post office etc.

2009/10 was the last year the Council supplied payment books. It is very costly to produce and post around 12,000 payment books a year and there are environmental disadvantages too. Therefore, from 2010/11, your bill will no longer be issued with a payment book.

If you normally pay by cash or cheque don't wait until next year - you can help us reduce costs and benefit the environment now. Cash and cheque payments incur substantial administrative and financial costs for the Council (our costs are ultimately reflected in the level of council tax charged) and there are environmental disadvantages too. Why not consider changing the way you pay? Please see the options available below.

How you can pay:

The most cost effective and environmentally friendly ways to pay are:

- Direct Debit - please see |Payment by Direct Debit or complete the application at the front of your payment book.

- Credit or debit card (from the comfort of your own home) either:

• |Over the web - available 24 hours a day * (You can also use computers in libraries/at the civic centre etc) or
  
• Telephone 01372 474020 is our dedicated 24 hour telephone line for payment *
  
  * secure site/lines - if you use a credit card there is a small charge - the amount is advised at time of payment.

- Your own bank - Ask your bank to make payment or set up a regular standing order. The council tax details below are different to those in the payment book. Please ask your bank to quote:

• For Council tax: Sort code: 08-90-34. Account: 61038600. Your 8 digit reference number starting with a " 2 ".
• For Business Rates: Sort code: 08-90-34. Account: 61038574.Your 8 digit reference number starting with a " 6 ".

Would you like to help us with a further environmental and cost saving? If you have regular access to the web why not sign up to |receive your council tax bill by email?

The following alternative ways to pay are costly for the Council and more environmentally disadvantageous. They should be avoided, if at all possible, unless you are unable to pay by one of the above methods:

- By cheque* - Please try to avoid sending cheques. They are expensive to handle and there are better environmental ways to pay (above). Why not ask your bank to pay us?

- If you do not have a bank account or credit/debit card* - you can buy a postal order from your local post office.

*For cheque and postal order payments please ensure they are made out to Elmbridge Borough Council and send your payment to the Civic Centre making sure your name/address and council tax or business rate reference number is written on the reverse of your cheque or accompany your payment.

|This information is also available in poster format.