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Minister THOMAS
Sent: Tue 03/09/2024 3:35:35 PM (UTC)
To: Carl CRESWELL
} Stephanie COSSOM
Shane BROWNIE
Ce: DBT Ministerial Submissio! . .
BICKERTON }. GRO. i
Subject: READOUT - National Federation of Subpostmasters - 03/09/202.
Hi Amy/Asha,
Thanks again for your help in today’s meeting - PSB a quick readout and accompanying actions.
Best,
Jamie
ae
Jamie Cunningham I Private Secretary to the Minister for Services, Small Business
Department for Business and Trade I Private Office Group
Department for
Business & Trade
Attendees
+ Minister Thomas
+ Calum Greenhow, CEO NFSP (CG)
+ Ruth Buckley -Salmon, Public Affairs NFSP.
+ Amy Lilley, Head of Post Office Policy & Strategy, DBT
+ Asha Balachandran, Senior Post Office Policy Advisor, DBT
----STARTS----
+ CG opened the meeting by noting his concern around the future of POL, and the need for
clear communication with the Postmaster network. CG emphasised that HMG, POL and
Postmasters should be working together to improve the Post Office network and was
interested to see what HMG is going to do to better the POL/Postmaster relationship.
Future of POL
+ MT highlighted that the future of the Post Office was one of his top priorities when talking to
DBT officials but asked what would CGs ideal scenario be.
+ CG noted his preference for the creation of an oversight committee (something he had
discussed with Lord Sikka) with mutualisation as an end goal but recognised that the
business needed to first become viable with a stable market. CG emphasised the damage the
Horizon scandal had done to relationships, as HMGs arm’s length approach to POL allowed
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information to be withheld, believing that more oversight would have reduced harm. Any
oversight committee would aim to hold POL board to account and would also bring in different
groups to feed into the thinking of Post Office. CG was keen to note that this would not
undermine the role of the Minister and noted he sent over a proposal. ACTIONR0}Asha
BALACHANDRAN: GRO I please could you follow up with Ruth on this.
+ CG also noted that POL could do more in banking with enhanced post offices.
+ CG also encouraged MT to push the Post office to better relationships with delivery
companies to allow more services to be sold in branches, especially i in rural branches to help
diminishing Postmaster income. ACTION
out figures Calum mentioned about income of postmasters percentage of their income
comes from where). CG mentioned it was a Parliamentary report/library.
+ CG was concerned around the Horizon IT system, believing it was beyond its shelf life, and
welcomed the current strategic review which will aim to restore confidence to Postmasters.
There was also a discussed around the lack of a public review of the system and Fujitsu’s
management of it
Hard to reach post offices
+ CG noted that under Post Office’s Network Transformation programme, postmasters who
did not want to modernise their branch could exit the network with a ‘leaver’s payment’. CG
was keen to hear the Ministers view on the Post Offices compromise compensation position.
ACTION - ‘eretL illey- Poulden: GRO lease could you send up a note outlining this
issue by COP Friday. 9 0"
Post office strategy
+ CG emphasised that needs of the postmaster should come into the ongoing strategic
review, and noted his concern around a proposed shift to a POL franchise model given
risks/implications to Postmasters as it would move them away from being an agent. POL
would need to spell out what options there are and then discuss with business partners.
HSS £75k top up letters
+ CG noted that postmasters have been telling the NFSP that redress should be allocated by
Post Office rather than by per person, any asked whether there was any way through.
lease can I check your thoughts on this?
----ENDS----