Council tenants in north-east England can now pay their rent and access services using the country’s first regional “smartcard”.
The card will give them access to library services, school meals, transport payments and banking as well as rent payments.

The card is part of a drive towards the government’s target of all public services being available electronically. All local and regional services in the North-east, plus many private sector applications, will be available this way by 2005, according to the consortium running the card scheme. Scheme members include all of the Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley councils and East Yorkshire council.

North East Regional Smartcard Consortium chair John Littleton said: “15,000 people have already been using smartcards in pilot projects. I am confident the people of the North-East will enjoy the benefits of a scheme designed to give them anytime, anywhere access to services in our region and beyond.”

Source

Housing Today