Archived decisions

Contact: Councillor Ken Thornber, tel: (01962) 847750, e-mail: [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 Following the discussions at County Council on 3 April this report updates Members on the Network Change programme of closures by Post Offices Ltd in Hampshire. While it was recognised that events were well advanced, it was agreed that the Leader should write to the Chief Executive asking for a meeting to discuss the closure programme in Hampshire.

2. Recommendation:

2.1 That the County Council supports continuing discussions with PO Ltd to explore options for post office services in Hampshire.

3. Background and position to date

3.1 The Post Office closure consultation programme was carried out in two phases (most of Hampshire then Aldershot area). Collectively the original plans were for 43 closures plus 9 branches to become outreach services.

3.2 After the consultations closed Post Office Ltd announced that the only changes from the plans would be that one branch (Goodworth Clatford) would remain open and another branch (Whitsbury) which was initially planned to be turned into an outreach will now close.

3.3 All but 3 of the 43 branches have now closed. The 3 branches from the later Aldershot consultation (Ash Road, Minley Estate and Boxalls Lane) are all set to close on the 6^th May. The remaining 8 Outreach proposals for Hampshire have yet to be arranged and are currently open as usual. A further consultation will be released shortly regarding these branches.

3.4 The new Hampshire Village Shop Grant Scheme has been launched. Developed with SEEDA, Community Action Hampshire and the Hampshire Association of Local Councils it is intended to provide better services locally for rural people and to improve access to essential services not available locally. It focuses on helping increase the use of village shops, particularly those that are losing their post offices, and/or support the creation of new community-led village stores. Three applications have been received so far from Pilley Stores in the New Forest, West Meon Community Shop and Headley with Ashford Hill and enquiries received from many other village shops interested in the scheme including Littleton, Anna Valley, Minstead, West Tytherley, Bramshaw, Leckford and Goodworth Clatford.

3.5 SEEDA will provide around £300,000 from their Rural Access to Services programme for this scheme and Hampshire County Council are providing £100,000 from the LABGI fund to supplement this funding. East Hampshire District Council are also offering support and funding of £70,000 for six of their village shops and Test Valley Borough Council £20,000 for shops in Test Valley.

3.6 The village shops project may provide a basis for identifying rural locations where some kind of outreach PO service could be negotiated. The situation concerning potential closure of Post Offices in urban locations is made more difficult by EU competition regulations. For example, if the sole shop (including post office facilities) in a village is to close, there should be no hindrance to targeted assistance by the County Council to help it continue as in the Village Shop initiative but where a shop, including a post office, is in close proximity to others in an urban area then financial help to that shop only would conflict with such EU regulations. The County Council will, if possible, develop a separate policy for closures in urban areas, but the difficulties should not be under estimated.

3.7 The Post Office have failed to provide more detailed financial information in response to several Freedom of Information requests but have agreed to meet with the County Council to discuss options for the future provision of services. This is an opportunity to understand how we can capitalise on the Essex County Council approach in relation to Hampshire post offices or to look more closely at the outreach options. This will require a full understanding of the financial and budget implications for the County Council.

3.8 While Essex County Council have taken the lead nationally on post office closures, their position is far from clear and appears to depart from their original statements. The LGA is attempting to achieve a national understanding with Government and Post Offices Ltd, and they are holding a conference on post office closures at which the County Council will be represented by a Cabinet Member and an officer from the Economic Development Unit.

3.9 A meeting was held with District Council Leaders to assess whether a County wide approach could be developed. The consensus was that apart from East Hampshire and Test Valley those present would not wish to commit Council Tax revenue to shops, the viability of which cannot be established. Attention was drawn to District Council's ability to reduce Council Tax to those people evidencing hardship and those businesses in financial difficulty.

Section 100 D - :Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

Title:
Correspondence and consultation documents in the Chief Executive's department.