Agenda item

Councillor Kath McGuirk moved the motion in her name.  Councillor Hugh Rayner moved the amendment in his name.  Councillor Tim Roberts moved an amendment in his name.

During debate, Councillor Hugh Rayner moved, that under Council Procedure Rule 10.9 moved, "that the question be now put".  This was seconded by Councillor Reuben Thompstone.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment in the name of Councillor Tim Roberts was put to the vote.

Votes were recorded as follows:

At least ten members called for a formal division on the voting. Upon the vote being taken, the results of the division were declared as follows:

The amendment was declared lost.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Hugh Rayner was put to the vote.

Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment was declared carried. 

RESOLVED that:

Council notes a campaign has been launched to prevent the proposed conversion of North Finchley Post Office into a franchise and to maintain it as Crown Post Office. Council notes this will result in a reduced service with longerqueues and waiting times for customers.

Since the mass closure of Crown Post Offices began under the previous

Labour government, some 97% are now franchises, leading in many cases to longer opening hours and greater convenience for customers. Indeed, despite Labour members’ involvement in the campaign against the closure of East Finchley Crown Post Office in 2014, Council notes that the franchise is now open for longer. It is also open on Sundays, unlike North Finchley Post Office.

Council notes a Financial Times report on East Finchley Post Office, published on 15th August 2016, which described how “Customers appear satisfied with the service.” The newspaper quoted Gloria Benson, 50, who said “It’s a wonderful post office. The old post office was a nightmare you had to wait for a long time” and Marc Schaller, 38, who said “I felt for a long time the post office needed to update and modernise.”

Council wants to support and rejuvenate our Town Centres and believes this kind of innovative entrepreneurial partnership complements our aim and is in the best interests of customers.

Council therefore instructs officers to set out LB Barnet's position on the proposed closure in a response to the Post Office Ltd consultation.

Before the consideration of the following motions, the Mayor asked whether Council wished to debate further motions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.1 15.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The following motions were therefore put to the vote without debate.