CALLS have been made to reintroduce cash desks at Monmouthshire County Council's One Stop Shops.

Councillors scrutinising the authority's waste policy reports at last week's Strong Communities meeting focused on charging for green garden waste bags.

But when members realised that Monmouthshire was likely to charge for additional services in the future they felt a more convenient method of paying for these was required.

Monmouthshire County Council closed the cashier's facilities in all the authority's One Stop Shops in October 2005, at the same time making it easier to pay for services online. Currently the physical structures of the cashier's office still remain inside all the One Stop Shops.

Councillors were told that the authority intends charging £8 for garden waste sacks from July.

Rachel Jowitt, Monmouthshire's Waste Strategy Manager informed members that when they originally devised the scheme to charge for green waste bags they had envisaged that this would be a cash transaction. 

She added, "However, this is not possible as the ability to take cash is no longer available to us.

"We need this scheme to be as accessible as possible. Payments can be made online, over the phone or sent in by cheque, but we cannot handle cash at the moment."

It was pointed out that people objected to making small payments like the proposed £8 for a year's supply of garden waste bags on their credit card.

Councillor Martin Hickman added: "We have to look at other ways in which people can pay this £8 charge. People don't want to use their credit cards for small payments.

"Additionally the fees payable by the council to use this facility to collect the £8 would not be cost effective. We have to look at other ways to take payments and if necessary investigate the reopening of the cashier's desk."

Councillor Tony Easson said: "It's obvious we need to charge for green waste bags, but we are making it very difficult for our residents. We need a new solution for these relatively small amounts and the cashier's desk located in the One Stop Shops would have been ideal."

Councillor Sue White added: "I would love to see the cash office open again and I know that a lot of residents in my ward would be very grateful if this facility was brought back into being."