AD HOC COMMITTEE ON LOCAL POSTAL SERVICES
Minutes of Proceedings
MONDAY 12 MAY 2008,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Robin Newton (Chairperson)
Mr Willie Clarke (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Thomas Buchanan
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr John Dallat
Mrs Carmel Hanna
Mr William Irwin
Mrs Anna Lo
Mr Fra McCann
In Attendance:
Mrs Mairead Mageean (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Eleanor Murphy (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Lynn Gray (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jonathan Young (Clerical Officer)
Miss Jodie Carson (Assembly Research Service)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mrs Naomi Long
The meeting opened at 2.32pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above. Mr Beggs attended in place of Mr Armstrong. Mrs Lo attended in place of Mrs Long.
The Chairperson informed Members that Mr William Irwin has replaced Mr Adrian McQuillan as a committee member.
2. Declaration of Interests.
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant pecuniary or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 6 th May 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of the 6 th April.
Mrs Hanna joined the meeting at 2.35pm.
Mr Buchanan joined the meeting at 2.36pm.
Mr McCann joined the meeting at 2.36pm.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 2.37pm.
4. Meeting on the 8th May.
The Chairperson advised Members that a quorum was not reached for the meeting of 8 th May but that a number of Members held informal discussions with representatives of Post Office Ltd and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to the tabled verbatim transcript of the meeting and advised Members that any questions arising from the transcripts should be forwarded to the Clerk.
5. Matters Arising.
Members noted the receipt of an email from An Post declining the Committee’s invitation to provide oral evidence as it is currently engaged in a wide review of its post office network.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 7 th May 2008 from Post Office Ltd declining the Committee’s request to extend the consultation deadline.
6. Evidence Session - Postwatch.
The witnesses joined the meeting at 2.38pm.
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Professor Maureen Edmondson, Chairperson, Postwatch NI
Kellin McCloskey, Postwatch Network Advisor
Julie-Anne McMaster, Postwatch Regional Manager
A question and answer session followed the presentation from Postwatch.
Mr W Clarke left the meeting at 3.15pm.
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 3.16pm.
Mr W Clarke rejoined the meeting at 3.24pm.
The witnesses left the meeting at 3.32pm.
Mrs Hanna left the meeting at 3.32pm.
Mrs Lo left the meeting at 3.35pm.
7. Research Briefing.
Jodie Carson of the Assembly Research Services briefed the Committee on her comparative analysis of regional and international countries’ experiences of managing post office closures. A question and answer session followed the briefing. Miss Carson agreed to provide further information to Members on a number of issues.
8. Consultation Reponses.
Members noted the receipt of a number of consultation responses.
9. Correspondence.
Members noted the Clerk’s letter inviting NILGA to provide a written response to the Committee’s consultation.
10. Any Other Business.
The Chairperson asked if Members were content that the statistics produced by the Assembly Research Service be copied to Postwatch.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Assembly Research Service statistics be copied to Postwatch.
The Chairperson informed Members that Wandsworth Community Centre and the Rural Development Network have requested an opportunity to provide oral evidence to the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed that Wandsworth Community Centre provide evidence at the meeting of 13 th May and that the Clerk would check Members’ availability to take oral evidence from the Rural Development Network on 15 th May.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 13th May, Room 144 at 4:00pm.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.48pm.