Digitising our service delivery

We are aware that accessing our range of services when you need them is very important to our residents so the council is creating more ways you can do this, and making it easier to access our services online.

As part of our digital transformation, we are providing access to more services via our website and making it easier to complete forms online. This means you can do this from the comfort of your own home, so saving you time, money and effort.

So how are we making it easier for you to access our services online? Here is a quick guide to getting the most out of your council online...

Did you know you can now scan your housing benefit and council tax evidence to us using your smartphone? With no need to visit our offices, you can save on the bus fare or the cost of parking, and time that you may have to spend waiting to see a member of staff.

In addition to making a payment or supplying evidence there are now around 50 different issues which you can tell us about online. These include lost dogs, missed bin collections, noise complaints, abandoned vehicles, vandalism and fly-tipping.

Please visit www.ashford.gov.uk/report or download the Your Ashford app from Google Play or the App Store.

We've also added Browsealoud technology to our website (look for the headphones in the top right-hand corner). This makes it easier for people who are dyslexic, have visual impairments or who speak English as a second language to navigate the site.

As well as allowing you to contact us while on the go or from the comfort of your own home, you can also expect a quicker response time from the authority. By responding to customer enquiries more efficiently, we can dedicate more time and resources to providing services for those residents who need them most.

Of course, if you prefer speaking to an actual person then we are still here to help. The Civic Centre has a suite of self-help PCs that can be used to complete transactions and if you require any help using technology then our customer service advisors are on hand to assist.