OneCard smartcard here to stay

The OneCard has been live in Waltham Forest since April 2007, with over 12,000 people using OneCard to pay rent and Council Tax. Payments can be made at all PayPoint outlets and Post Office counters.

Rent and Council Tax payments were just the start of a wider smartcard programme in Waltham Forest and across London. The value in a smartcard is having a number of different services accessible through a single card. Other OneCard implementations are:

  • Council staff cards: staff across the council are now using OneCards as a combined ID and access pass.
  • Schools: The OneCard is being used in three secondary schools for staff and pupil access, e-registration and cashless payment of school meals.  The BSF (Building Schools for the Future) schools are leading the way in using technology, including use of smartcards.
  • Licensing Cards: The OneCard is now being issued as a Licensing ID card to all the Personal Licence Holders registered with the Council.
  • Cash Office Closure: In order to minimise the impact of the closure of the cash office, residents are being encouraged to sign up for the OneCard which will then allow them to pay their Council Tax at any PayPoint or Post Office outlet near them.
  • Street Trading: The system allows the Market Traders to pay their Street Trading fees at any PayPoint outlet or Post Office counter.
  • General Invoices: The OneCard can now also be used to pay for Council Invoices.  The cards have initially been sent out to service users for Meals on Wheels, Home Care,  Residential Care, Community Alarms, Leasehold and Sports Pitch Booking services.

Future Plans

The next planned deployments for other areas, based on Business Case Feasibility are likely to be:

  • Local Business Discount Card: Implementation of a local business discount scheme will increase local footfall and market share. It will also establish the OneCard as a “passport” to the benefits of being a citizen of Waltham Forest.
  • Libraries: The OneCard has the potential of being a library card.  We are working with other London Boroughs to ensure that any smartcard library solution gives the same functionality as we currently have in libraries.
  • Leisure: The addition of leisure functionality to the OneCard will give simpler access for residents to leisure centers.  There is also the potential to use an e-purse on the OneCard, removing the need to take money when going swimming etc.

Waltham Forest is leading for London in the smartcard field, and other boroughs are following our lead, rolling out a variety of services.  With the success of the Oyster card, Londoners have embraced smartcard technology, and the OneCard has the potential to make access to Council services much easier for all residents.

» See our Frequently Asked Questions about the OneCard for more details