Convener Questions Legitimacy of Post Office Consultation Process
The Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Sandy Park, has written to Government Ministers to register the Council’s “very real concern” that Post Office Ltd appear to have pre-determined the outcome of consultation over post office closures. Councillor Park has complained to Pat McFadden, the UK Minister with responsibility for Post Offices, that the Post Office commissioned BT to put infrastructure in place a number of outreach sites – including the erection of a new telegraph pole at one location – not only before a decision on closure has been made – but even before the consultation period had ended.
This, he said, questioned the legitimacy and genuine nature of the consultation process itself leaving the Council with the impression that the outcome of the ‘consultation’ process was pre-determined. Public confidence in the consultation process, he added, had been seriously damaged.
His letter has been copied to Peter Luff MP, Chair, Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Committee, UK Government and John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, Scottish Government.
Councillor Park said in his letter to Mr McFadden: “I wish to bring to your attention a practice of very real concern. The post office closure programme for The Highland Council area concluded on Monday 18th February. This has been an extremely intensive six week period for both the Council and its communities to ensure that as many people as possible have had the opportunity to express their opinion. The Council recognises that some post offices in Highland will close; however, it is important that Post Office Ltd adheres to the criteria set down by Government and ensures that particular groups are not adversely affected by the closure programme. The consultation process is, therefore, vitally important to ensure no inappropriate closures are made and that no inappropriate outreach services are designed.”
The Convener said that on Thursday 14 February – four days before the close of the consultation – reports reached the Council of work being undertaken by BT on behalf of Post Office Ltd to put infrastructure in place at a number of the proposed outreach sites, where a new service would be provided to replace that provided at the local post office.
He added: “Contact was made with Post Office Ltd to request clarification with regards this very worrying occurrence. Post Office Ltd confirmed that communication lines would be required for their computer system to be fully operational should closure proceed and that as part of preparatory works BT are asked to inspect sites and “given the lead in times for installation, in some cases lines will be installed to reduce the time taken to set up potential outreach sites”.
“This practice is most disappointing and questions the legitimacy and genuine nature of the consultation process itself. The reports of this occurrence have seriously damaged public confidence in the whole consultation process and communities are now worried whether their concerns and comments will be considered.
“The handling of the closure programme and the consultation process overall by Post Office Ltd has been seriously flawed. This latest episode further questions the ability of Post Office Ltd to undertake the programme of closures across the UK in an open and transparent manner.
“The Council is extremely disappointed in the approach taken by Post Office Ltd. It appears that the concerted efforts of the Council and our communities over the past six weeks have been in vain, with the outcome of the ‘consultation’ process already pre-determined. I do hope that you will ensure that these concerns that I have raised are promptly addressed.”