About the payment process
The council’s secure online payment system is available 24 hours a day.
You’ll be taken to a secure website, where you’ll enter your credit or debit card details. To make sure the payment goes smoothly, the system checks your account details before completing your payment.
Reference number you will need to make your payment (this will change depending on what you are paying). For examples of some of these bills and invoices, with the relevant references circled, see the downloads section of this page.
Please note, these links may take you to a payment form on our old-style website. This will look a little different to this site, but it’s still an up to date and secure payment form.
Click here to pay your council tax – IMPORTANT: your reference number is the eight digit reference beginning with a 4 as displayed on your council tax bill
Click here to pay business rates – IMPORTANT: your reference number is the seven digit reference beginning with a 5 as displayed on your business rates bill
Click here to pay parking fines – IMPORTANT: your reference number is the ten character reference starting XS on your parking fine
Click here to pay for your planning application – IMPORTANT: your reference is the Planning Application Reference (e.g. P16/S1234/HH).
Housing Benefits overpayments – IMPORTANT: your reference number is the eight digit reference beginning with a 7 as displayed on your housing benefit overpayment invoice
Temporary rents and hostel accommodation – IMPORTANT: your reference number is a twelve digit reference beginning with 999.
Fixed penalty notice – IMPORTANT: your reference number is the six digit reference beginning with a 6 that is displayed on the fixed penalty notice
Please note: The payments system is not compatible with older web browsers that use SSLv2 or lower encryption. If your web browser is using SSLv2 or lower please upgrade your browser to a new version.
Alternatively you may wish to use your own bank’s internet or telephone banking system. All payments should quote your invoice or account number and the following details:
You also need to quote the correct council reference (depending on what you are paying) detailed above. If you are paying for more than one account or property, please make separate payments for each individual account/property. Failure to quote the correct reference or to make separate payments for individual accounts could lead to delays in allocating the payment once it has been received and may result in recovery documents being issued.
Cash, cheque or postal order
Your Council Tax or Business Rates can be paid by cash, cheque or postal order free of charge at any branch of the Post Office.
PLEASE NOTE PAYMENTS MAY TAKE UP TO 7 DAYS TO REACH YOUR ACCOUNT IF PAYING AT THE POST OFFICE
Are you wasting time or money on any of the following?
If the answer to any of these is YES, have you thought about switching to direct debit?
How to switch your payment method to Direct Debit – the safe and easy way to pay
This is the easiest way to pay because your bank or building society does all the work and yet you remain in control.
By switching to Direct Debit now, you will save yourself considerable time and effort in the future. This will also help the council to reduce its costs, which helps to keep down your Council Tax.
How to switch to Direct Debit
You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by writing to your bank or building society. If you do this, please also send a copy of the letter to us.
Benefits of using Direct Debit
With Direct Debit you have no worries about carrying cash, writing cheques or sorting out paperwork and postage. You also won’t have to queue to pay, as your bank or building society will do all the work for you.
Taking the paperwork out of payment allows the council’s staff more time to give you individual attention. If a payment is not received, we will write and tell you instead of sending out reminders. If we need to adjust your payments, we will send you a bill well in advance. As well as being more convenient for you, a Direct Debit reduces the demand for valuable natural resources (by reducing the need to produce payment vouchers) and therefore benefits everyone.
Make the switch to Direct Debit and help us to help you.
The Direct Debit Guarantee
This Guarantee is given by all banks and building societies that take part in the Direct Debit Scheme. The efficiency and security of the scheme is monitored and protected by your own bank or building society.
If the amounts to be paid or the payment dates change, you will be told about this at least 14 days in advance.
In the unlikely event that an error is made either by the council or your bank or building society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund.
