Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That

(A)   The Chair would write, on behalf of the Committee, to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Margot James MP, in relation to the future of New Cross and Sydenham Crown Post Offices.

(B)   The CASS Business School report Making the Case for a Post Bank, (prepared for the Communications Workers Union, September 2017), would be provided to Mayor and Cabinet to inform policy development in this area.

4.1    The Chair welcomed Mole Meade, Communication Workers Union (CWU) to the meeting.

4.2    Ralph Wilkinson gave a brief update on the New Cross and Sydenham Crown Post Offices. It was noted that:

·         The Mayor had written to Ellie Reeves MP, the Chief Executive of the Post Office and the Government minister responsible for Post Offices, opposing the changes to the Sydenham Post Office.  The Post Office Chief Executive had also been asked for further information about their strategy to preserve the full range of Post Office services for Lewisham residents. 

·         Sydenham  - the timetable had been to complete the consultation by 26 May 2017 and to make the changes in August 2017.  However, the Post Office have not yet made a decision on the future of the branch. Terms for the temporary lease renewal (pending a decision) had been agreed and solicitors instructed to draw up the new lease.

·         New Cross – the timetable was to complete the consultation by 18 October 2017 and implement the changes in February 2018.  The Post Office was currently making its decision.

4.3    Mole Meade introduced the CASS Business school report on proposals for a Post Bank. It was felt that the establishment of a Post Bank would enable the Post Office to be sustainable in the long term, by diversifying its portfolio of activities and increasing revenues. A state-owned Post Bank would also provide better access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises, improved financial inclusion, a rebalancing of the UK economy away from London and other major urban centres and align the Post Office with the successful strategy of other postal operators around the world.

4.4    In response to questions from members of the committee the following points were noted:

·         The CWU wanted the Post Bank to be state run, rather than mutually owned.

·         Members could help the CWU realise their ambition by applying pressure to ministers.

4.5    RESOLVED: That

(A)      The Chair would write, on behalf of the Committee, to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Margot James MP, in relation to the future of New Cross and Sydenham Crown Post Offices.

(B)      The CASS Business School report Making the Case for a Post Bank, (prepared for the Communications Workers Union, September 2017), would be provided to Mayor and Cabinet to inform policy development in this area.