Council "unlikely to assume public subsidy"

This morning I received a letter from Jane Davidson AM. She kindly enclosed a copy of a letter Russell Roberts, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, wrote to her on March 31st, 2008.

(Cllr Roberts' letter was in response to one Jane sent to him on March 12th in which she enquired into the authority's view of Essex County Council's interest in taking over the running of Posts Offices in that area).

Sadly, as the contents below reveal, our council is not in a position to follow the bold lead of Essex.

Dear Jane

Re: Llantrisant Post Office

Thank you for your letter dated March 12th regarding Llantrisant post office and Essex County Council's plans, which I understand are currently the subject of negotiations with Post Office Ltd.

You may be aware that the Council has made a number of strong and unequivocal representations opposing the closure of post offices in Rhondda Cynon Taf. In December, I wrote on behalf of the Council to Post Office Ltd, during its consultation on the closure proposals outlining in the clearest terms our objection to the closure of those branches in the County Borough.

Given the challenging financial climate facing local authorities, including Rhondda Cynon Taf, it is unlikely the Council would be in a position to assume the public subsidy for post office branches in the County Borough. Clearly, this would have implications for resources in service areas for which we have direct responsibility rather than a keen interest as in the case of post offices.

I welcome the reopening of the Post Office Development Fund from 1st January 2009, and would also be interested should the Assembly Government decide to provide specific funding for local authorities to intervene as you suggest.

Yours sincerely



Councillor Russell Roberts
Leader of Cynon Taf County Borough Council