THE SUBPOSTMASTER - JUNE ISSUE

News roundup
Report submitted to Welsh Government
The NFSP submitted a report to
the Welsh Government on behalf of
the Wales/Cymru branch in May
regarding access to high street
banking in Wales.
Wales is probably one of the most
affected parts of the UK, alongside
Northern Ireland and rural Scotland, as
broadband coverage is not as
widespread in more rural areas,
therefore online provision may not be
an option.
Distance to the nearest alternative
banking facility will be greater in
Wales, due to its rural nature.
The NFSP believes post offices offer
a ready-made solution for bank
branch closures, so government needs
to adapt the access criteria to include
opening hours, model type and
banking services.
New Members’
Editors announced
We are delighted to announce that
Tim Allen and Jon Bumphrey will take
over as joint Members’ Editors of The
SubPostmaster magazine from the
August edition.
Jon is a fourth-generation postmaster
and he and his family have owned
around 20 branches over the past 100
years. He said: “This gives me valuable
insight into where the Post Office has
come from, where it is headed, and
what it means to its staff, customers,
and communities.
“This role interested me because I will
relish the opportunity to have first-hand
access to the people who make a lot of
the decisions that affect what we do
every day in our branches.”
Jon owns Evesham PO, a Main high
street branch with 19 outreaches and he
has also recently launched a Banking
Hub.
Tim became postmaster of Kington in
2019 after a career in
telecommunications and property. He
was part of the NFSP delegation who
handed the DVLA petition into 10
Downing Street in November and he
has also written several blogs which can
be found on the NFSP website.
Tim said: “I very much look forward to
the possibility of interviewing PO
Tim Allen and (inset)
Jon Bumphrey
personnel on matters of concern to
postmasters and to finding answers to
members’ letters. The level of
renumeration that is paid to
postmasters genuinely shocked me
when I took on the job.
“Whilst I have no expectation of major
change anytime soon, I do believe we
have passed the rock-bottom point and
the trajectory for those who can hang in
there is a better one. If I can play the
smallest part in helping to change the
way we are seen by Government, that
would be truly worthwhile.”
This magazine is Jon Follenfant’s last
MEETING WITH
THE DBT
The NFSP met with the
Department for Business and Trade
(DBT) in April.
The NFSP thanked the Postal
Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake and
the DBT for their work on
compensation for victims of the
Horizon scandal.
Fake stamps were discussed
and how postmasters are worried
these are getting through.
It was good to hear the Minister
challenging Royal Mail (RM).
The price of stamps and the
Ofcom review: NFSP discussed
concerns over Ofcom’s call for input
and the lack of full stakeholder
engagement, plus the lack of
financial scrutiny of RM.
Remuneration update: NFSP
reiterated the increase needs to be
greater to keep up with the cost of
running a post office.
as Members’ Editor after nine years in
the role.
NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow said: “I
would like to thank Jon for all his hard
work and for providing so much insight
to members. I wish him all the best in
his retirement.
“We now very much look forward to
working with both Tim and Jon.”
Oversight Committee reply
The NFSP received a reply from Postal Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake in
April to our letter regarding the governance of Post Office Ltd (PO) and NFSP
proposals for the establishment of an Oversight Committee to scrutinise
decision making by PO.
Minister Hollinrake says he looks forward to receiving a more detailed outline
of the NFSP’s Oversight Committee proposal to give it full consideration.
8 The SubPostmaster June 2024