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Agenda item

The following Notices of Motion submitted to the County Council by the Councillors detailed below have been referred to the Cabinet in accordance with Standing Order 8(2) for consideration, to refer it to another committee or make a recommendation back to the Council: A briefing note (CSO/19/20) on each Motion is attached.

 

(a)   Future of the Post Office (Councillor Hannaford)

(b)   Boosting South West Rail Investment (Councillor Hannaford)

(c)   Appledore Shipyard Renationalisation (Councillor Hannaford)

(d)   Veterans Pledge (Councillor Scott)

Minutes:

(a) Future of the Post Office

 

(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 attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Connett and Dewhirst attended in accordance with 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

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.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/20) which referred to the numbers of Post Offices in the UK, the publication of an ‘Access Criteria’ in support of Government’s desire to see a network of post offices accessible to people, the work of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee in examining issues such as the franchising of Post Offices, the reduction of Government subsidies, and the long-term resilience of the service, the Council’s response to the Committee’s consultation earlier this year http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/bus iness-energy-and-industrial-strategy-committee/post-office-network/written/101221.html and the work of the Council in linking with Devon Communities Together to understand the current picture in Devon and opportunities to share local good practice, experience and networks to support groups wanting to develop greater community and rural resilience.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and other relevant factors and;

 

RESOLVED 

 

(i) that Council urges Government to give consideration to the opportunities for further commercial support for rural, coastal and other ‘community’ critical post office locations, reflecting the challenges around the franchise model in many of these locations and their centrality to local service delivery;

 

(ii) that Council further urges Government to give consideration to the potential to better utilise and work with the post office network on wider service delivery, beyond financial transactions, and their potential role in competitive processes around regeneration and deprivation through key socio-economic Departments (MHCLG, BEIS, DCMS, DoH etc);

 

(iii) that Council note the ongoing work to map community assets including Post Offices and banks to identify gaps in physical banking facilities in market towns and for populations at least six miles from their nearest post office outlet; and

 

(iv) that Council supports links to communities and organisations wanting to develop and sustain the Post Office network in Devon, particularly where gaps in physical banking facilities exist.

 

 

(b) Boosting South West Rail Investment (Councillor Hannaford)

 

(Councillor Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Ackland, Biederman and Connett attended in accordance with 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

Council is concerned that the £56 billion HS2 rail scheme has little or no direct economic, social or infrastructure benefits for the South West region.

Council considers that the existing rail links between London, Birmingham, Leeds

and Manchester are already good, if not excellent, and in stark comparison to the

far South West, that has dated and frail rail connections, that badly need new

substantial strategic investment.

 

Council notes the recent report by the New Economics Foundation “A Rail

Network For Everyone – Probing HS2 And Its Alternatives”, that includes rerouting

the current HS2 funding to other regional rail improvements to improve local

connectivity across the UK.

 

Council further notes other recent professional reports, representations and cross

party discussions at Parliament, that have also recommended this move to invest

in alternative railway investment away from HS2.

 

As part of this process Council supports that reallocation of HS2 funds for the

following local projects;

 

Improve connectivity to Bristol Temple Meads - to boost this transport hubs

rail links - £125m

Rebuild Cullompton Station – lost since 1964, connecting the town to Exeter

and Bristol, in tandem with the proposed 5,000 new homes at the garden

village - £15m

Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton - to improve sustainability, resilience,

and green travel, in line with the ongoing substantial new housing

developments - £500m

Cross Cornwall Rail Link – to improve links between East and West Cornwall

- £125m.

Reopen the Bodmin to Wadebridge railway line – to convert the community

line back into more active service - £125m.

 

And the national scheme to build cycle paths next to motorways and A roads,

to create 7,600 miles of new routes to boost cycling - £1.82bn.

 

Council resolves to make formal representations to the Parliamentary Transport

Committee, the Secretary of State for Transport, the Chancellor, the Prime

Minister and all local Members of Parliament to support this reallocation of

strategic infrastructure investment, and work with other key regional partners to

move matters forward.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/20) which referred to the Peninsula Rail Task Force’s (PRTF) publication ‘Closing the Gap’: a strategic rail blueprint for a more resilient, reliable and better-connected railway in the South West with improved comfort and capacity, the commitment of the Council (with other Authorities) to speak with one voice on strategic rail matters, the engagement with Network Rail, Train Operating Companies and the Department for Transport making significant progress against the 20-year plan, and the GWR franchise commitments for improved journey times and enhanced services. Whilst the Council could not question the case or need for infrastructure such as HS2, with a new Secretary of State for Transport and Rail Minister it was now opportune to set out its prioritised list of strategic rail asks.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and;

 

RESOLVED 

 

(i) that with a new Secretary of State for Transport and a new Rail Minister in post, the PRTF be asked to reemphasise its prioritised list of strategic rail asks as set out in ‘Closing the Gap’; and

 

(ii) that Council remains focused on its own ambitions for rail and lobbying our Peninsula MPs through forums such as the all-party parliamentary groups or via direct correspondence with Ministers that has proven successful in the past; and continuing this positive engagement with Government is the most effective way to secure rail improvements for the South West and realising our true economic potential.

 

 

(c) Appledore Shipyard Renationalisation (Councillor Hannaford)

 

(Councillor Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Biederman, Connett and Dewhirst attended in accordance with 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

Council notes that Appledore Shipyard has a long and proud history of building and repairing vessels, and general engineering work since its founding in 1855.

 

Council is gravely concerned that despite having a highly skilled, dedicated and innovative local work force the shipyard remains closed.

 

Council reflects that this area of Devon has high levels of child poverty, poor

infrastructure and very high rates of rural poverty generally, all of which require more public investment and intervention.

 

Council calls on the Government to renationalise Appledore Shipyard and fully integrate the site and its operations into the Ministry of Defence, to secure its long term future, ensure that defence capacity and resilience are maintained and provide employment and prosperity to the local community and the wider county of Devon.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/20) which referred to the current economic situation in Torridge and the work of the Council and others (including Trades Unions, Torridge District Council, South West Business Council and Jobcentre Plus) to prepare for the next steps around the site. The Council had indicated its strong support for the retention of skilled shipbuilding and marine sector jobs in the Torridge area, in particular any opportunity to sustain related apprentice and training activity. There was a working group who had been in regular contact with the owner of the site who wished, if practically possible to maintain employment, preferably with links to the marine and maritime sectors. The Council had also engaged with local MPs and was keen to ensure a long-term solution for Appledore and would continue to work with partners to ensure that the prospects for investment (to restore highly skilled marine focused employment) reached a satisfactory outcome.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendation before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and other relevant factors and;

 

RESOLVED

 

(i) that Council note Appledore Shipyard has a long and proud history of building and repairing vessels, and general engineering work since its founding in 1855;

 

(ii) that Council is concerned that despite having a highly skilled, dedicated and innovative local work force the shipyard remains closed and is working with partners and Government to look into ways of securing new relevant employment opportunities at the site;

 

(iii) that Council reflects that this area of Devon has high levels of child poverty, poor infrastructure and very high rates of rural poverty generally, all of which require more investment; and

 

(iv) that Council continues to work with a range of partners including business, Trades Unions and the Government to ensure a satisfactory outcome which secures new investment into Appledore shipyard, creating highly skilled employment locally.

 

 

(d) Veterans Pledge (Councillor Scott)

 

(Councillor Scott attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and Councillors Biederman, Connett and Hannaford attended in accordance with 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

This Council supports and urges the Government and new Prime Minister to

implement the Veterans Pledge and legislate to:

 

1) create an Office of Veterans Affairs within the Cabinet Office, with a Cabinet level

Minister, to ensure world-class care and support for former Armed Forces

personnel;

 

2) enshrine the Military Covenant into law, so that no veteran or their family should

ever face any disadvantage because of their service for this country; and

 

3) end vexatious investigations into historical allegations against our troops -

including in Northern Ireland - to be passed before the next General Election.

 

Members considered the Officer’s factual briefing note on the matter (CSO/19/20) which referred to the Council’s signing of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, the evolving of the Devon Armed Forces (Community) Covenant Partnership and the signing of the Armed Forces Employer Covenant in 2018. It was noted that the Council was working towards achieving Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme status. The briefing note also referred to the activity at Government level including the appointment of a Cabinet Minister representing Veterans, the work of the new Office for Veterans’ Affairs and the consultation on proposed legislation on prosecutions https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legal-protections-for-armed-forcespersonnel-and-veterans-serving-in-operations-outside-the-united-kingdom.

 

The Cabinet considered the recommendations before them and the actions now proposed and already undertaken and other relevant factors and;

 

RESOLVED

 

(i) that Council submits a response to the public consultation on legal protections for Armed Forces Personnel and Veterans;

 

(ii) that Council notes the current position regarding enshrining the Covenant in Law (Armed Forces Act 2011); and

 

(iii) that Council notes the creation of the Office for Veterans Affairs.

Supporting documents:


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