• ISLINGTON Council faces massive ongoing government cuts to its budget. To help save money for vital local services, we’re encouraging residents to move over to eBilling to manage their council tax online.

For every resident who signs up to eBilling, the council saves money. Also, eBilling frees up time so staff can give more support to those residents who need our help.

As part of our work to promote eBilling, we recently sent emails to a number of people who already use the council’s online My eAccount service, urging them to switch to eBilling (Paying online: imposing an unfair cost on citizens, September 8).

These emails were only sent to people who already use online services. We are not forcing people to use eBilling, or to use council services online, although we will continue our work to support residents to go online because in most cases this will bring benefits for them, as well as helping save money for local services.

I am nonetheless sorry if the email the council sent caused any alarm.

To be absolutely clear – we are not forcing people to use eBilling or to pay their council tax online. Paper bills are still available and we offer support with council tax over the phone or face-to-face for those who need it.

CLLR ANDY HULL
Labour executive member for finance, performance and community safety