Agenda item

White Paper - Sub-Post Offices and Council Services

This council believes there are many potential benefits to local communities from delivering council services through sub post offices including saving taxpayers money, improving access to local services for residents and assisting in the revival of our sub post offices by improving the revenues that flow through them.

 

Council therefore calls on the chief executive to contact the senior management of Post Office Limited (POL) with a formal request to enter into discussions with a view to establishing a new partnership with POL, that aims to use the network of local sub post offices across our community to deliver council services where that is in the best interests of the citizens of Leeds and to report back regularly to the council so we can monitor progress. Council further requests that a report is presented to Executive Board updating members on the outcome of this request and any subsequent discussions with POL.

 

 

  M HAMILTON

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor Lamb that this Council believes there are many potential benefits to local communities from delivering Council services through sub post offices including saving taxpayers money, improving access to local services for residents and assisting in the revival of our sub post offices by improving the revenues that flow through them.

 

Council therefore calls on the Chief Executive to contact the senior management of Post Office Limited (POL) with a formal request to enter into discussions with a view to establishing a new partnership with POL, that aims to use the network of local sub post offices across our community to deliver Council services where that is in the best interests of the citizens of Leeds and to report back regularly to the Council so we can monitor progress. Council further requests that a report is presented to Executive Board updating members on the outcome of this request and any subsequent discussions with POL.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Gruen, seconded by Councillor Dunn to delete all after ‘This Council believes’ and replace with

 

‘that post offices are an important part of the fabric of local communities. Council notes the extensive work that has already taken place between the Council and the Post Office and we continue to be supportive of the Post Office providing relevant services on our behalf. 

 

We note with regret that the Post Office was recently unsuccessful in its bid to provide benefit payment services on behalf of the Government’s Department of Work and Pensions.  Council notes that the Government is considering the role of Post Offices in relation to providing a verification service for people claiming the new Universal Credit.

 

Council therefore reaffirms its support for post offices and resolves that the Chief Executive should write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions expressing our support for Posts Offices undertaking a verification service for customers applying for Universal Credit.’

 

The amendment was carried and upon being put as the substantive motion it was

 

RESOLVED – That this Council believes that post offices are an important part of the fabric of local communities. Council notes the extensive work that has already taken place between the Council and the Post Office and we continue to be supportive of the Post Office providing relevant services on our behalf. 

 

We note with regret that the Post Office was recently unsuccessful in its bid to provide benefit payment services on behalf of the Government’s Department of Work and Pensions.  Council notes that the Government is considering the role of Post Offices in relation to providing a verification service for people claiming the new Universal Credit.

 

Council therefore reaffirms its support for post offices and resolves that the Chief Executive should write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions expressing our support for Posts Offices undertaking a verification service for customers applying for Universal Credit.

 

At the request of the Lord Mayor, the electronic voting system was used to determine the outcome of the vote on the amendment in the name of Councillor Guren. 

 

There were 46 in favour of the amendment and 43 against.