To update Cabinet on the Government’s post office closure programme and the progress being made on an initiative to develop sustainable options for the delivery of post office services to rural communities in Herefordshire.

THAT:

(a)               the course of action proposed, be approved; and

(b)               the location of Council and other rural services be mapped to show their correlation geographically in relation to current post offices across the county.

Following on from the announcement in December 2006 by the Government on the closure of up to 2,500 post offices nationally, the DTI issued a consultation document on its future proposals for the post office network.  Herefordshire Council has co-ordinated a response to this consultation and has used the opportunity to examine sustainable models for delivering post office services in the County.  The State of Herefordshire Report indicates that 84% of residents found it easy to access post office services in 2005. The Council has a commitment to at least maintain this level of access.

Do nothing – with consequences as laid out in risk management.