Council Offices, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ED
COMMITTEE: TOWN (EXTRAORDINARY MEETING)
DATE THURSDAY, 9TH SEPTEMBER 2004
TIME: 6.00 PM
PLACE: COMMITTEE ROOM 1, WALLACE GREEN HALL,
BERWICK-UPON-TWEED
Members: S J Anderson, H Bettison, A R Bowlas, D G R Buckle, A B Douglas, G M Elliott, G P Horsburgh, E I Hunter, D McClymont, J N Simpson, J E Smith, J W Stephenson and J Waterhouse
If you have any enquiries about items on this Agenda, please contact
NOTE: All Members of the Council are invited to attend this meeting.
1 DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Members are invited to declare any interest they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for this Meeting.
[Note: Any Member wishing to seek clarification as to whether it may be appropriate to declare an interest in respect of any item on this agenda should seek advice from the Chief Executive or Borough Solicitor at least one working day before the Meeting].
2 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TOWN COMMITTEE HELD ON 16TH JUNE 2004
Previously circulated; Chairman to sign.
3 PROPOSED POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN BERWICK-UPON-TWEED
Members are asked to note that arrangements for the consideration and discussion of this item will be as follows:
(a) Brief presentation from the Director (Tricia Dow) and Network Adviser (Chris Thirketle) of Postwatch Scotland on proposals by the Post Office Ltd to close Post Offices in Berwick-upon-Tweed located in Spittal, Tweedmouth, Prior Park and Castlegate, and to establish new facilities at the Co-operative Superstore in Tweedmouth and West Street, Berwick.
Postwatch Scotland is the consumer watchdog for postal services in this area.
(b) The Chair and Vice-Chair of Town Committee, Councillors J Waterhouse and AR Bowlas, will share a panel with the Postwatch Scotland representatives, and will report to Members on their discussions with local Postmasters / Postmistresses before the Panel takes questions from Members and members of the public.
[Note: Officers are attempting to secure the participation of a senior Post Office Ltd official, but at the time of the dispatch of the agenda no conclusive arrangements had been made.]
A background report is set out below:
Summary:
• Main Post Office in Berwick-upon-Tweed closed in Autumn 2003
• Council initiated discussions with the Post Office Ltd to find a solution, including the use of the Council Offices as a potential site for a new main Post Office
• Closure has caused significant long-term inconvenience for Post Office Service users
• In August 2004, the Post Office Ltd announced proposals for closure of post offices located in Spittal, Tweedmouth, Prior Park and Castlegate, and the establishment of two new purpose-built Post Offices in West Street, Berwick, and at the Co-op in Tweedmouth
• Public consultation on proposals opened on 26th August and closes on 8th October – Council view requested by Postwatch Scotland
• Closure programme expected to begin in December 2004, but no clear timetable as yet for opening of new facilities
Purpose:
To appraise Members of the background to these proposals and formulate a recommendation for consideration at the Ordinary Meeting of Council to be held on 23rd September 2004.
Report:
Since the closure of the main Post Office in Berwick was confirmed in autumn 2003, the subject has been regularly reported to both Council and Town Committee.
At the invitation of the Mayor, the General Manager of the Post Office Ltd, Richard Barker, and Head of Operations for the North East of England, David Mellows-Facer, attended a meeting of the Council on 25th March 2004 to explain the rationale behind the closure, outline the measures being taken to bring about a replacement facility, and reiterate the commitment of the Post Office Ltd to the restoration of a main Post Office facility in Berwick as quickly as possible.
An approach by the Council proposing the location of a main Post Office facility in the Council offices was ultimately rejected for business and logistical reasons.
The most recent development has been the announcement by the Post Office Ltd on 25th August 2004 that the Post Offices listed below should be closed following a review of the Post Office network in the Berwick-upon-Tweed area:
• 74 Main Street, Spittal
• 72 Main Street, Tweedmouth
• 8A Grove Gardens, Prior Park
• 71 Castlegate, Berwick
To investigate the effect of these closures, and to ensure that service levels to the community are maintained, the Post Office Ltd proposes to establish two new purpose-built Post Offices at:
• 9-17 West Street, Berwick
• Co-operative Supermarket, Main Street, Tweedmouth
Research undertaken by Members has revealed that three of the four Postmasters and Postmistresses managing Post Offices listed above are either nearing retirement or approaching the end of existing contracts.
Futhermore, it appears that the requirement to ensure that local Post Offices are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act and the general upgrading of premises is likely to be financially prohibitive for anyone wishing to continue running their Post Office.
A copy of the announcement by the Post Office Ltd of these proposals has been distributed to all Members.
Postwatch Scotland have requested that they be notified of any comments this authority (or individual Members) wish to make on these proposals by 1st October, in order that comments can be incorporated into Postwatch Scotland’s own response.
Following the presentation from representatives of Postwatch Scotland and reports from the Chair and Vice-Chair of Town Committee, and having debated the matter, Members are asked to consider what action the Council wishes to take in respect of these proposals and whether any decision should inform a recommendation to Council on 23rd September.
Implications:
Equal Opportunities:
Sections of the community, particularly those without access to transport, will be disadvantaged by the closure of their local Post Offices. There is no parking immediately adjacent to the proposed Post Office in West Street. Once operational, there is likely to be a significant increase in demand for parking in the Eastern Lane Car Park.
To consider what action the Council wishes to take in respect of the proposed closure of four Post Offices in Berwick-upon-Tweed and the establishment of two new purpose-built facilities.
Background documents:
(i) Branch closure notification from the Post Office Ltd (Head of Area) to the Chief Executive, dated 25th August 2004
(ii) Letter from Postwatch Scotland to the Chief Executive entitled “ Proposed Post Office closures In Berwick-upon-Tweed”, dated 19th August 2004
