Future of the Post Office
Councillor Hannaford to move:
Council notes with concern that;
Britain’s 11,500 post office branches are facing mounting financial pressures. It is claimed financial pressures have already forced up to 1,000 out of business. More customers are now going online to buy stamps and parcels for postage. More people are also using the web to pay bills and to use government services. Government subsidies for remote post office branches have already fallen from £415million in 2013-14 to £99million in 2017-18. Under current plans this will fall further to £50million in 2020-21 before being stopped completely. At the moment Post Office Limited, which is owned by the Government, replaces branches when they shut, but campaigners have warned that the rate of closures in the coming years will make this impossible.
This Council believes that:
Our post offices are a key asset for the community, and the expertise and experience of staff there is invaluable. The relentless franchising and closure programme of the profit-making Crown post Offices, points to a lack of vision rather than the plan for growth and innovation that is needed. Government should therefore halt these closures and bring together stakeholders, including the CWU, industry experts, and business leaders, to develop a new strategy that safeguards the future of the Post office.
Therefore, Council resolves;
To formally write to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and all our local Members of Parliament, calling on the Government to guarantee their future. We are calling for the network to be properly funded, with a full range of services over the counter for those who are not online, and better support for the development of community hub models.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
(Councillor Biederman declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in this matter by virtue of being an employee of the Post Office and withdrew from the meeting during its consideration).
Councillor Hannaford MOVED and Councillor Whitton SECONDED, as amended below and with the consent of the Council.
Council notes with concern that;
Britain’s 11,500 post office branches are facing mounting financial pressures. It is claimed financial pressures have already forced up to 1,000 out of business. More customers are now going online to buy stamps and parcels for postage. More people are also using the web to pay bills and to use government services. Government subsidies for remote post office branches have already fallen from £415million in 2013-14 to £99million in 2017-18. Under current plans this will fall further to £50million in 2020-21 before being stopped completely. At the moment Post Office Limited, which is owned by the Government, replaces branches when they shut, but campaigners have warned that the rate of closures in the coming years will make this impossible.
This Council believes that:
Our post offices are a key asset for our communities in Devon, and the expertise and experience of staff there is invaluable. The relentless franchising and closure programme of the profit-making Crown post Offices, points to a lack of vision rather than the plan for growth and innovation that is needed. Government should therefore halt these closures and bring together stakeholders, including the CWU, industry experts, and business leaders, to develop a new strategy that safeguards the future of the Post office.
Therefore Council resolves;
To formally write to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and all our local Members of Parliament, calling on the Government to guarantee their future. We are calling for the network to be properly funded, with a full range of services over the counter for those who are not online, and better support for the development of community hub models.
In accordance with Standing Order 6(6) the Notice of Motion was referred, without discussion, to the Cabinet for consideration.