Economic Policy Review Committee: First Report for the Session 2019-20
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PP 2019/0121 ECONOMIC POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE FIRST REPORT FOR THE SESSION 2019-2020 The future of the Isle of Man Post Office ECONOMIC POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE FIRST REPORT FOR THE SESSION 2019-20 THE FUTURE OF THE ISLE OF MAN POST OFFICE There shall be three Policy Review Committees which shall be Standing Committees of the Court. They shall scrutinise the established (but not emergent) policies, as deemed necessary by each Committee, of the Departments and Offices indicated in this paragraph together with the associated Statutory Boards and other bodies: Economic Committee: Treasury; the Department of Economic Development; and the Cabinet Office (including constitutional matters). Each Policy Review Committee shall in addition be entitled to take evidence from witnesses, whether representing a Department, Office, Statutory Board or other organisation within its remit or not, in cases where the subject matter cuts across different areas of responsibility of different Departments, Offices, Statutory Boards or other organisations. The Policy Review Committees may also hold joint sittings for deliberative purposes or to take evidence. The Chairmen of the Policy Review Committees shall agree on the scope of a Policy Review Committee’s inquiry where the subject cuts across the respective boundaries of the Policy Review Committees’ remits. Each Policy Review Committee shall have – (a) a Chairman elected by Tynwald, (b) two other Members. Members of Tynwald shall not be eligible for membership of the Committee, if, for the time being, they hold any of the following offices: President of Tynwald, member of the Council of Ministers, member of the Treasury Department referred to in section 1(2)(b) of the Government Departments Act 1987. The Policy Review Committees shall be authorised in terms of sections 3 and 4 of the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1876 as amended and of Standing Orders to take evidence and to summon the attendance of witnesses and further to require the attendance of Ministers for the purpose of assisting the Committee (or Committees, if sitting jointly). Resolved on 20th May 2014 – That the remit of the Economic Policy Review Committee should include the work of the Financial Supervision Commission, Insurance and Pensions Authority and Gambling Supervision Commission, this remit to include the requirement for the Chief Executive to give evidence in public. The powers, privileges and immunities relating to the work of a committee of Tynwald are those conferred by sections 3 and 4 of the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1876, sections 1 to 4 of the Privileges of Tynwald (Publications) Act 1973 and sections 2 to 4 of the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1984. Committee Membership Mr C R Robertshaw MHK (Douglas East)(Chairman) Mr T S Baker MHK (Ayre & Michael) Mr J R Moorhouse MHK (Arbory, Castletown & Malew) Copies of this Report may be obtained from the Tynwald Library, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas IM1 3PW (Tel: 01624 685520) or may be consulted at www.tynwald.org.im All correspondence with regard to this Report should be addressed to the Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PW. Table of Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................... 1 II. PARLIAMENTARY CONTEXT ........................................................................... 2 III. BACKGROUND............................................................................................... 4 IV. RECENT CHALLENGES AND THE ISLAND’S RESPONSE ...................................... 5 V. THE PRESENT CRISIS ...................................................................................... 8 VI. WHAT THE POST OFFICE IS............................................................................10 VII. WHAT THE POST OFFICE CAN DO ..................................................................11 VIII. WHY THE POST OFFICE MATTERS..................................................................12 IX. THE GOVERNMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POST OFFICE, MUST DEVELOP A NEW VISION ......................................................................................14 LETTERS AND PARCELS 15 MICARD 16 VEHICLE AND DRIVER LICENSING 16 CASH 17 X. CONCLUSION................................................................................................17 WRITTEN EVIDENCE .............................................................................................19 APPENDIX 1 SUBMISSION DATED 5TH MARCH 2019 FROM THE ISLE OF MAN BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SUB-POSTMASTERS 21 APPENDIX 2 SUBMISSION OF 19TH MARCH 2019 FROM THE ISLE OF MAN BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SUB-POSTMASTERS: SURVEY RESULTS 31 APPENDIX 3 SUBMISSION DATED 4TH MARCH 2019 FROM S GUBBY, SUB-POSTMASTER JURBY 41 APPENDIX 4 SUBMISSION DATED 4TH MARCH 2019 FROM MARY PALMER, SUB-POSTMASTER LAXEY AND PEEL 45 APPENDIX 5 SUBMISSION DATED 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 FROM JEFF CALVERT, SUB-POSTMASTER PORT ST MARY 49 APPENDIX 6 SUBMISSION DATED 4TH MARCH 2019 FROM MARTIN ROYLE, DEPUTY CLERK, GARFF COMMISSIONERS 53 APPENDIX 7 SUBMISSION DATED 5TH MARCH 2019 FROM MARGARET DAVIES, CHAIRMAN, PORT ST MARY COMMISSIONERS 57 APPENDIX 8 SUBMISSION DATED 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 FROM JACKSON BAIN 61 APPENDIX 9 SUBMISSION DATED 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 FROM CHRISTOPHER BALL 65 APPENDIX 10 SUBMISSION DATED 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 FROM DOUGLAS BAYLEY 69 APPENDIX 11 SUBMISSION DATED 5TH MARCH 2019 FROM JOHN BECKETT 73 APPENDIX 12 SUBMISSION DATED 4TH MARCH 2019 FROM BARRY EDWARDS 77 APPENDIX 13 SUBMISSION DATED 4TH MARCH 2019 FROM ARIE EISINGER 81 APPENDIX 14 SUBMISSION DATED 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 FROM SARA GOODWINS 85 APPENDIX 15 SUBMISSION DATED 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 FROM SUE HANSEN 89 APPENDIX 16 SUBMISSION DATED 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 FROM PHIL THOMPSON 93 To: The Hon Stephen C Rodan OBE MLC, President of Tynwald, and the Hon Council and Keys in Tynwald assembled ECONOMIC POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE FIRST REPORT FOR THE SESSION 2019-2020 THE FUTURE OF THE ISLE OF MAN POST OFFICE I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Striking the right balance between the commercial and social obligations to be placed on the Post Office is a complex question for policymakers in every jurisdiction. Moreover, as the political, social and technological environment changes, the settlement between the community and its Post Office must be revisited in every generation. 2. In July 2018 Tynwald referred action on the future of the Post Office to the Board of the Post Office itself. This put the Post Office in a position where achieving a positive vision for the future was difficult. It has opted instead for a strategy of managed decline. 3. Between July 2018 and December 2018 the Post Office discussed with various Government Departments and other public bodies the possibility of collaboration in the development of enhanced public services. However, the Post Office did not have any success in persuading other public bodies to partner with it. 4. The Post Office is not in a position to develop enhanced public services on its own. Left to do so it would, over time, slip further into crisis. 1 5. If the Post Office services and a network of sub post offices are left to wither their loss could never be replaced, resulting in a serious setback for enhanced public services in the community. 6. In our Report, which has been brought forward to coincide with the Post Office bringing its report to Tynwald, we consider a number of key issues which must be thoroughly addressed if the future of the service is to be secured. 7. If it is to be sustained, the Post Office’s unique attributes and position as a strategic priority at the heart of Government must be recognised. To achieve this there is an urgent need to re-purpose the Post Office with a new and clear vision. Once set, a operating model can be designed and a series of steps taken to migrate towards it. 8. The Isle of Man Post Office is a national asset which deserves to be treasured by Tynwald and by everyone in the Island. It combines a capable logistics organisation with a highly trusted brand, wide geographic spread and a loyal employed workforce. In the network of sub postmasters it has a team of dedicated private sector partners with close links to local communities. Together these capabilities add significant value to the life of the Island. 9. Where we refer to “the Post Office” in this Report we include not only the Statutory Board constituted under the Post Office Act 1993 but also the independent sub postmasters who carry out services under contract to the Statutory Board. We see both the Statutory Board and the sub post office network as integral parts of the Isle of Man Post Office. II. PARLIAMENTARY CONTEXT 10. The future of the Post Office has long been a matter of concern for Tynwald. Since the 2016 General Election there have been a series of statements by the Chairman of the Post Office Board and two substantive debates. On 19th July 2018 it was resolved - That Tynwald: recognises the unique attributes, capabilities and social value of the Isle of Man Post Office; acknowledges the challenges it faces in its core business sectors; views with concern its future prospects; believes that the Isle of Man Post Office has a significant role to play in the future delivery of enhanced public services in the Isle of Man; 2 supports Isle of Man Post Office Board to ensure the long-term future of Isle of Man Post Office for the benefit of the people of the Isle of Man; requires the Isle of Man Post Office to report back to Tynwald