Agenda item

            The Committee was advised that the Post Office Limited was undertaking a consultation exercise on its Network Change Programme – Area Plan Proposal Northern Ireland.  The programme was designed to implement measures proposed by the Government to modernise and reshape the network of Post Office branches.  The Director of Improvement outlined the minimum access criteria, the rationale for change and types of outreach services which had been suggested.  He explained that, out of the 54 current Post Office branches to be replaced by Outreach services, none were located within the Belfast City Council area.  With regard to closures, 10 out of the 42 branches proposed for closure were located within the Council area.  These were:

·         Belmont, 1 Campbell Park Avenue, Belfast BT4 3FH, Victoria Electoral Area.

·         Blacks Road, 120 Blacks Road, Belfast BT10 0NF, Upper Falls Electoral Area.

·         Carlisle Circus, 14 Antrim Road, Belfast BT15 2AA, Oldpark Electoral Area.

·         Cave Hill, 634 Antrim Road, Belfast BT15 5GP, Castle Electoral Area.

·         Grosvenor Street, 263 Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 4LL, Lower Falls Electoral Area.

·         Lisburn Road, 217 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7EJ, Balmoral Electoral Area.

·         Orangefield, 276 Castlereagh Road, Belfast BT5 6AD, Pottinger Electoral Area.

·         Ormeau Road, 160 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2ED, Laganbank Electoral Area.

·         Summerhill, 3 Summerhill Avenue, Belfast BT5 7HD, Victoria Electoral Area.

·         The Throne, The Throne Centre, Whitewell Road, Belfast BT36 7EX, Castle Electoral Area.

            Accordingly, he recommended that the Council submit the following response:

“Re: Post Office Ltd Network Change Programme – Area Plan

Proposal Northern Ireland

      Thank you for your letter of March 31^st regarding the Regional Plan Proposal for Northern Ireland that is part of the Network Change Programme to reshape and modernise the Post Office Network.

      With respect to the proposed closures in the Belfast area, the Council is concerned that a number of the closures are in constituencies with a high concentration of areas of deprivation. Care should be taken that closures do not impact adversely on those most in need in our city.

      Much of the media focus has been on rural communities and the associated impact of closures; however Belfast City Council would suggest that the Post Office would be mindful of the fact that urban communities are equally affected by access, particularly groups such as the elderly, those with mobility issues and residents in deprived areas.  In addition taking into account the divided nature of parts of the city, this can have amplified implications on the socially excluded groups already mentioned.

      Belfast City Council acknowledges the economic considerations behind the proposed closures to support and reshape the Network for the future and ensure the Network’s continued viability, however Belfast City Council seeks assurances that residents requirements will continue to be met by the Post Office Network, especially the most vulnerable and socially excluded sections of the community so that these groups are not adversely affected.

      The detailed impact assessment undertaken by Post Office Ltd and copies of the analysis of Post Office branches from the Belfast area has been sent to individual party groups on the Council for them to review and respond with comments in line with their local knowledge and familiarity with the needs of local people.

      As the Outreach Service will not apply in the Belfast City area however, we feel it would not be appropriate for us to comment on its applicability.

      Thank you for keeping Belfast City Council informed of the current position.”

            During discussion in the matter the Members made the following comments:

·         the response should be amended to indicate that the Council was opposed to the closure of any branches in the Belfast City Council area;

·         further consideration should be given to providing Outreach services instead of closing Post Offices;

·         consideration should be given to the knock-on effect which closures would have on independent retailers located beside Post Offices in order to maximise their customer base;

·         the requirement for 95% the urban population to be within 1 mile of their Post Office branch could mean the difference between the elderly being independent or not; accordingly, branches which fell within the minimum distance should not be closed for that reason alone;

·         there was a need to look at how Post Office branches could operate in a sustainable way, that is, through the return of services which had been transferred by the Government to the banks and through the provision of Council services, such as the issuing of dog licenses; and

·         whilst it was recognised that it was not part of the criteria used to select Post Offices for closure, consideration should be given to the fact that some of the branches proposed for closure operated in and serviced a cross-community population, which in itself provided a benefit to the immediate locality.

            The Committee agreed that the response be amended to incorporate the foregoing comments.