Proposing: Councillor Jane Carr; Seconder: Councillor Sophie Bell
1. That this Council notes that:
- a) Earlier this year, the Government announced its decision to remove DVLA services from post offices across the UK from 31 March 2024.
- b) The Post Office provide services such as taxing your vehicle and applying for a new, or updating, a driving license. If these services are removed, they will only be available online.
- c) Not everyone in Milton Keynes has access to online services.
- d) The cost-of-living crisis has meant many people are going back to using cash to keep a tighter control over their spending.
- e) In the UK 6 million customers per year access DVLA services through the Post Office and half of those pay in cash.
- f) Plans to withdraw DVLA services from post offices could result in 50,000 full-time job losses.
2. That this Council believes that:
- a) The Post Office provides residents with essential DVLA services and the Government’s choice to remove these services are leaving communities across Milton Keynes without this option.
- b) Not everyone has access to online services, and many don’t feel comfortable using them such as the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable.
- c) Everyone should have an option for a face-to-face service.
- d) For many people who have returned to using cash due to the cost-of-living crisis, removing these services from the Post Office would take away the option of being able to pay using cash.
- e) Current Post Office staff are at risk of losing their jobs.
3. That this Council resolves to:
- a) Ask the Chief Executive of the City Council to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to request DVLA services are not withdrawn from post offices across Milton Keynes.
- b) Call on residents across the city to sign the online petition or visit their local post office to sign the offline petition.