Common Sense for local people: Scottish Conservatives want Council Counters in our Post Offices

Scottish Conservatives want a framework for local authorities to open Council Counters in Post Office branches.

Speaking from Colinton Post Office in Edinburgh, David McLetchie, Scottish Conservative Campaign Manager for the Scottish Parliament election, said:

"With the closures carried out by the last Labour UK Government, our Post Offices have been through a tough time in recent years. Recent UK Government amendments to the Postal Services Bill will hopefully secure Royal Mail and the Post Office network for the next decade at least.

"Many people, particularly in more rural areas, depend on Post Offices as a vital part of their community. We should do all we can to protect them but also look at ways of improving the services they provide.

"One way of doing this is looking at the idea of providing council services through 'Council Counters' in Post Offices. Council Counters would improve engagement with local residents, ensure that vulnerable people had access to vital services and also help to secure the long-term future of the Post Office network.

"The first step would be for local authorities to consider what services could be provided by Post Offices. We have set aside some funding for this in our comprehensive fully costed four year spending plans. It is for local councils to negotiate with local Post Offices as to exactly what services are on offer and whether they would be full time or part time.

"We would then look at creating a framework for them to open Council Counters where they feel these services could be provided.

"It is common sense to protect our Post Offices and builds on action the Scottish Conservatives have taken in recent budgets to create a Post Office Diversification Fund. We want to bring local authority services closer to local people and Council Counters are an ideal way of doing that."

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