Report of the Strategic Director of Customer Services to the meeting of Executive to be held on 15th July 2008 M Subject: Post Office Network restructuring in Bradford, excluding Keighley and Ilkley: options for action after the public consultation period Summary This report summarises the outcome of the consultation process instigated by the Council in respect of the major post office network restructure programme in the four Bradford Parliamentary Constituencies, excluding Keighley and Ilkley. In particular the report details:1. The public consultation response 2. The characteristics of the post offices planned for closure and their local community 3. Options for response to the post office consultation and makes recommendations thereon Wallace Sampson Strategic Director, Customer Services Portfolio: Corporate Report Contact: E. Brookfield Phone: (01274) 434480 [email protected] Overview and Scrutiny Area: Corporate 1.0 1.1 Background At its meeting of 11th September 2007 Executive was advised that Post Office Services Ltd. (POL) propose to close 2,500 sub post offices nationwide during 2007/08, as an efficiency measure. 1.2 It was reported that POL’s public consultation for the programme for the Bradford district would be actioned in two phases: phase one covering the Keighley Parliamentary Constituency actioned from 26th November 2007 and completing on 17th January 2008 and phase two, the four other Parliamentary Constituencies, starting on May 13th 2008 and completing on June 20th 2008. 1.3 Officers have facilitated the Council’s own consultation on the proposed closure programme for the Bradford Constituency areas through: (i) (ii) its usual consultation channels. an analysis of the community value of each PO planned to close 1.4 Eleven sub post offices proposed for closure were announced on 13th May 2008 and are listed at Appendix One. 1.5 Officers consulted with residents via neighbourhood forums during May and June 2008. A number of forums were attended by representatives from POL and Postwatch- the Government agency charged with ensuring Post Office Services comply with the terms of the reconfiguration programme. 1.6 Appendix 2 provides an analysis of public comments from the forums in respect of the named sub post offices and lists queries about the accuracy of POL’s descriptions of access to alternative post offices. 1.7 With the exception of St Paul’s Road and Ashbourne Estate offices, where no adverse comments have been received about closures, respondents to the Council’s consultation are strongly supportive of retaining the identified post offices. The main reasons given to retain services in their present location are: 1.8 • firstly, accessibility: in several cases people have said that access to alternative post offices will be more difficult due to both distance and a steep, hilly terrain. Respondents challenge POL’s descriptions of terrain (“sloping” when it would be more accurate to say “steep hills”) car parking arrangements and bus services eg. Chellow Dene and Duckworth Lane; • secondly, a strong appreciation of the ‘social value’ of each of the post offices. Respondents cite friendly customer service, convenience to shop and pay bills and a community and service information centre. Respondents raised a number of questions and suggestions that would require both time and detailed discussions with Post Office Services Ltd, community groups, Ward Councillors and local businesses, to provide a considered response, for example to look at community led solutions. The consultation period is for 6 weeks. That does not provide the Council with sufficient time to enter into detailed discussions about practical, alternative actions. 2 Report to the Executive 2.0 2.1 Other Considerations The Council meeting on 26th June 2007 resolved the following, in relation to the 2007 proposed Post Office closures: “This Council calls on the Chief Executive to report to the Executive on the possibility of local partnership with Post Offices for the delivery of Council services, including benefits payments, Council Tax collection and the provision of public information”. The issues surrounding the transfer of cash collection to alternative service providers are currently being investigated and will be subject to a separate report. 2.2 Pursuant to the Local Government Act 2000, Local Authorities have a statutory power to promote the social, economic and environmental well being of their Districts. To this can be added the place shaping role attributed to Local Authorities, in the local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. 2.3 There are currently 73 post offices in the four Constituencies. The closure list of 11 equates to 15% of the total. Post Office Services aim to close around 18% of post offices in each separate Area Plan. 2.4 The criteria against which Post Office Services have chosen to evaluate impact of closures is “access”. This ensures that, following the restructuring: a) 99% of the UK population should be within 3 miles of a post office and 90% within one mile; b) for deprived communities (defined as the 15% most deprived Super Outputs Areas) 99% of the population should live within one mile of post office services. c) for rural populations, 95% of the population will be within 3 miles of a post office 2.5 The proposed closures in the four Constituencies will meet these criteria. 2.6 Whilst Post Offices Services state publicly that the primary objective of the restructure programme is to achieve financial stability for all post office services, the organisation has not provided ( in either their Area Plan or on their website) the economic or business plan rationale for closing the named post offices. As a result, it is not possible to determine what cost savings will be achieved by closing the named post offices, nor how those costs compare with the costs of the other 62 Bradford offices. 2.7 The experience of Councils in the earlier rounds of restructure is that, where a named post office is saved from closure, POL will require an alternative post office from the district to be substituted for closure. Kent County Council received news of 58 proposed closures. POL proceeded with 56 but required two further closures to compensate. 2.8 At the time of completing this report, the public consultation had completed. 3.0 3.1 Options In considering options for this report the following factors are pertinent:3 Report to the Executive • Consultation has shown that there is strong public support to retain the post offices • Statistical analysis of the surrounding communities for each of the locations shows that deprivation indicators, income support and job seekers allowance claims, are higher than the Bradford average in: i) ii) iii) iv) Leeds Road Woodhall Avenue City Road Manningham In all the locations, car ownership is lower than the Bradford average; in the St Paul’s area there is a higher than average population of the over 65s. • 3.2 The short timetable set by POL does not allow development of detailed, sustainable options to provide for long term post office services for communities and business in the affected offices Executive can respond to POL by:i) Opposing the proposals in respect of all eleven post offices and requesting further time to discuss options with franchisees. Experience elsewhere in the country suggests that Post Office Services will not co-operate with such a request. or ii) accept the proposals for closure for one or more offices, using the comments received and the statistical analysis of the respective communities to support actions. or iii) accept the proposals for closure for all post offices. or iv) Oppose proposals in respect of all post offices and instruct the Strategic Director of Customer Services to draft an appropriate response to POL by 23rd July 2008 stating the Council’s: • • Concerns regarding the timescales for the public consultation process Restating the Council’s support for the retention of post offices to provide sustainability to local communities 4.0 4.1 Financial and resource appraisal There are no financial or resource implications for the Council in respect of either supporting or rejecting Post Office Service proposals. 5.0 5.1 Legal appraisal There are no legal implications in responding to the POL consultation process. 6.0 Other implications 6.1 Equal Rights 6.1.1 There are no Equal Rights implications in respect of responding to the consultation. 4 Report to the Executive 6.2 Sustainability implications 6.2.1 Responses to date do not indicate that the withdrawal of post office services from a retail outlet will make outlets un-economic to keep open. 6.2.2 Post Offices Services have stated that the final network restructure should ensure future sustainability of the retained post offices. That statement is not a guarantee that retained post offices will remain indefinitely, nor that post office services will continue to be delivered through a traditional “post –office” entity. 6.2.3 Should Post Office Services be persuaded to retain any of the eleven post offices, the terms of their restructure exercise may lead to closures of alternative post offices in the Constituencies. 6.3 Community safety implications 6.3.1 This report has no community safety implications. 6.4 Human Rights Act 6.4.1 This report has no Human Rights Act implications. 6.5 Trade Union 6.5.1 This report has no Trade Union Implications. 7.0 7.1 Not for publication documents There are no “not for publication” documents, with this report. 8.0 Recommendations That Executive: Notes the result of the different consultation exercises in the four Bradford Constituencies. 8.1 8.2 Considers the options in paragraph 3.2 and determine their preferred option. 9.0 9.1 Appendices Appendix 1 - list of the eleven sub post offices proposed for closure. 9.2 Appendix 2 - comments from the Neighbourhood Forums, during May and June 2008 where the closure of a local sub post office was discussed with comments on the assessment of the alternative post office services proposed by POL, together with record of attendance by either Post Office Services or Postwatch 9.3 Appendix 3 - a profile of the communities served by each post office 9.4 Appendix 4 - maps - separate maps of each post office location to show: (i) Deprivation (ii) One mile access radius to alternative post offices (iii) Terrain/gradient 10. 10.1 Background documents Report to Executive, 11th September 2007 10.2 Report to Executive 15th January 2008 5 Report to the Executive APPENDIX 1 List of planned post office closures, Bradford 1. Ashbourne Estate 1041 Bolton Road Bradford BD2 4LN - Bradford North 2. Leeds Road 812 Leeds Road Bradford BD3 9TY - Bradford North 3. Undercliffe 10 Harrogate Road, Undercliffe, Bradford BD2 3DU - Bradford North 4. Woodhall Avenue 1 Woodhall Avenue Bradford BD3 7BY - Bradford North 5. Wibsey 96 High Street Bradford BD6 1NB - Bradford South 6. Chellow Dene 1-3 Pearson Lane Bradford BD9 6BB - Bradford West 7. City Road 104 City Road Bradford BD8 8JT - Bradford West 8. Duckworth Lane 60 Duckworth Lane Bradford BD9 5HA - Bradford West 9. Leaventhorpe (Temporarily closed) 1009 Thornton Road Bradford BD8 0PA - Bradford West 10. Manningham Manningham Post Office, 14-18 Green Lane, Bradford BD8 7SP - Bradford West 11. St Pauls Road 51 Bradford Road Shipley BD18 3DS - Shipley 6 Appendix 2 Results of neighbourhood forum consultations on post office restructuring, Bradford, with comments on access at alternative branches May/June 2008 Post Office planned for closure Discussed at Forum & date Comments Comments about alternative post offices Did POL or Postwatch attend? No General unhappiness at potential loss of post office services- good relationships with present post masters; both very busy o concerns around physical access to alternative at heights Lane: access is up a hill; o alternative at Lilycroft would not accommodate wheelchairs o Car parking at Lilycroft is poor o concerns that alternative post offices at Allerton road will not have the capacity to cope with more customers; o Allerton Road Post Office is in a Co-op shop they will be queuing out of the door o Kensington Street will be difficult as there is no public transport and it is a very steep hill. o It’s a long walk from Daisy Hill to Allerton and is a very steep hill. o The Heights Lane Co-op is also very hilly and there are buses, they don’t run at all in bad weather. o Half of Bradford use the Duckworth Lane Post Office; if it Yes, Postwatch Barkerend Children’s Centre 28th May Duckworth Lane Chellow Dene Daisy Hill, at Church of Latter Day Saints 4th June Sample comments: A resident pays her bills and gets her pension from Chellow Dene Post Office. It is a shop as well as a Post Office so is very good for local residents. Duckworth Lane is the only Post Office for miles around where you can get your car taxed. Are there any plans for an alternative Post Office to take on this role? Duckworth Lane is such a busy Post Office they are always queuing out of the door and is part of a busy shopping parade where residents can get all they need. Is being busy not an important fact? Residents showed which Post Office they objected to being closed, 1 Appendix 2 Results of neighbourhood forum consultations on post office restructuring, Bradford, with comments on access at alternative branches May/June 2008 Post Office planned for closure Discussed at Forum & date Comments Comments about alternative post offices approximately 25 for Chellow Dene and 38 for Duckworth Lane. is relocated other Post Offices will be extremely busy. o Lilycroft is very small, you wouldn’t get a wheelchair into the shop and it is very difficult to cross the roads since the refuge by Westfield Garage was taken out. They are very busy roads. 55 residents attended An 80 signature petition has been collected Did POL or Postwatch attend? o There are parking bays at Lilycroft, however, they are always full and there is a problem with double parking. Woodhall Avenue, Ashbourne Estate, Bolton Road Thornbury Forum, 26 residents; two councillors and 8 • young people attended; at Thornbury Centre 10th June • Woodhall has crossing facilities the • other branches do not • Post Office queues are always lengthy – this will get worse if Woodhall closes. • Many users are elderly or disabled and unable to stand for lengthy periods of time • Woodhall caters for many elderly residents unable to go elsewhere and who do not have internet facilities or There are no parking facilities at the other branches Yes, Postwatch Other branches have security guards as there are local addicts causing problems– this makes residents fearful 2 Appendix 2 Results of neighbourhood forum consultations on post office restructuring, Bradford, with comments on access at alternative branches May/June 2008 Post Office planned for closure Discussed at Forum & date Comments • • Comments about alternative post offices Did POL or Postwatch attend? anyone to help them get to a Post Office that’s further away Woodhall is the hub of the community – if this is lost the elderly particularly will feel dejected Residents feel safe going to the Woodhall Post Office Councillor Riaz complained that this area losing 2 out of 3 Post Offices and expressed concern over the unfairness of this Wibsey Branch 96 High Street, Wibsey Odsall forum at Wibsey Methodist church 10th June • 20 residents attended the meeting • a petition has been organised – so far 1500 signatures • Good parking including disabled parking outside Wibsey branch PO • Residents felt the proposed closure of the High Street branch post office would adversely affect an increasing number of senior citizens and disabled people who would be caused major problems. • No parking facilities at St Enoch’s PO • DVLA facilities not available at nearby branches Yes, Postwatch 3 Appendix 2 Results of neighbourhood forum consultations on post office restructuring, Bradford, with comments on access at alternative branches May/June 2008 Post Office planned for closure Discussed at Forum & date Comments Comments about alternative post offices Did POL or Postwatch attend? Resident wanted to complain in the strongest terms about closure of Chellow Dene Post Office. Has a disabled relative who cannot manage change. This Post Office is right on her doorstep The terrain to the alternative at Height Lane is up a steep hill and is an impossible walk for her, taking perhaps an hour. There is no bus service to get to Heights Lane Post Office Yes- both had reps. present 3 proposed post office closures out of 10 in Bradford are affecting this area. This really affects us. We need to consider disability and getting into town by bus. It will be extremely difficult for local people from this area with the proposed changes in terms of walking and other difficulties • 47 residents attended the meeting • a petition has been organised – so far 1500 signatures • Wibsey has a high number of older people – has this been taken into consideration? • Poor parking facilities at St. Enoch’s PO • Alternative branches would not be providing the DVLA facilities • There is more than adequate parking facilities available for customers Local Ward Councillors are supportive of the local post office and the community against the proposed closure Duckworth Lane Chellow Dene Leaventhorpe /Thornton Road Wibsey Branch 96 High Street, Wibsey Fairweather Green, at St Saviour’s church 11th June Wibsey evening at Wibsey primary school 12th June Yes, Postwatch 4 Appendix 2 Results of neighbourhood forum consultations on post office restructuring, Bradford, with comments on access at alternative branches May/June 2008 Post Office planned for closure Duckworth Lane Discussed at Forum & date Duckworth lane 19th June Comments Comments about alternative post offices • elderly use this post office • Duckworth Lane post office is part of an active business community of small shops • the post office is very well used by the Bradford Royal infirmary • This is an area classed as having multiple deprivation • bus to Lilycroft isn’t practical for elderly- it’s a long way • The approach to Kensington Street is up a steep hill • The alternatives do not allow you to tax your car Did POL or Postwatch attend? Yes, Postwatch 43 residents attended one Post watch rep attended. Woodhall Avenue Bradford Moor, 28th May 9 residents attended. Cllr Khaliq present. Both POs provide valuable service for elderly. Area coordinator asked to send an objection letter to POL Not an agenda item. Info on BD18 website and in Local Information Sheets St Paul’s is less than one mile from two other post offices. Closure not seen by residents as significant. & 812 Leeds Road St Paul’s Road, Shipley No POST OFFICES PLANNED FOR CLOSURE Chellow Dene, 1-3 Pearson Lane, BD9 6BB St Pauls Road, 51 Bradford Road, Shipley, BD18 3DS 5 Appendix 2 Results of neighbourhood forum consultations on post office restructuring, Bradford, with comments on access at alternative branches May/June 2008 City Road, 104 City Road BD8 8JT Ashbourne Estate, 1041 Bolton Road, BD2 4NL Duckworth Lane 60 Duckworth Lane BD9 5HA Woodhall Avenue, 1 Woodhall Avenue BD3 7BY Leaventhorpe, 1009 Thornton Road, BD8 0PA Wibsey, 96 High Street, BD6 1NB Leeds Road, 812 Leeds Road, BD3 9TY Manningham , 14-18 Green Lane, BD8 7SP Undercliffe, 10 Harrogate Road BD2 3DU 6 Appendix 3 Simple data profile of neighbourhoods with a sub post office identified for closure Post Office: Ashbourne Estate Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 14.6 14.5 Households without cars 35 26.8 Living in rented housing 28.3 28.9 Income support 5.1 4.7 Job seekers allowance 5.5 4.5 Post Office: Leeds Road Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 10.4 14.5 Households without cars 49.2 26.8 Living in rented housing 42.0 28.9 Income support 8.0 4.7 Job seekers allowance 11.3 4.5 Post Office: Undercliffe Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 13.1 14.5 Households without cars 37.1 26.8 Living in rented housing 28.7 28.9 Income support 5.7 4.7 Job seekers allowance 6.6 4.5 1 Appendix 3 Simple data profile of neighbourhoods with a sub post office identified for closure Post Office: Woodhall Avenue Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 10.0 14.5 Households without cars 43.6 26.8 Living in rented housing 36.6 28.9 Income support 7.6 4.7 Job seekers allowance 9.5 4.5 Post Office: Wibsey Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 14.3 14.5 Households without cars 37.0 26.8 Living in rented housing 28.1 28.9 Income support 5.4 4.7 Job seekers allowance 5.2 4.5 Post Office: Chellow Dene Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 12.7 14.5 Households without cars 34.8 26.8 Living in rented housing 29.4 28.9 Income support 6.3 4.7 Job seekers allowance 6.0 4.5 2 Appendix 3 Simple data profile of neighbourhoods with a sub post office identified for closure Post Office: City Road Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 8.3 14.5 Households without cars 48.9 26.8 Living in rented housing 45.4 28.9 Income support 7.3 4.7 Job seekers allowance 11.6 4.5 Post Office: Duckworth Lane Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 11.4 14.5 Households without cars 37.5 26.8 Living in rented housing 30.5 28.9 Income support 6.4 4.7 Job seekers allowance 8.2 4.5 Post Office: Leaventhorpe Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 14.3 14.5 Households without cars 35.7 26.8 Living in rented housing 30.5 28.9 Income support 6.2 4.7 Job seekers allowance 5.0 4.5 3 Appendix 3 Simple data profile of neighbourhoods with a sub post office identified for closure Post Office: Manningham Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 9.4 14.5 Households without cars 48.3 26.8 Living in rented housing 44.7 28.9 Income support 7.5 4.7 Job seekers allowance 11.6 4.5 Post Office: St Paul’s road Community profile % Bradford Average % Over 65’s 17.3 14.5 Households without cars 36.2 26.8 Living in rented housing 31.5 28.9 Income support 4.6 4.7 Job seekers allowance 4.9 4.5 4
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