Collection on delivery

[ninja]

below is the actual requirement imposed by OFCOM.

Point 6 of the footnote states that a requirement that the maximum walking time is 8/9 minutes. So in my view this means that for every COD box you must have a pm box within this walking time. Although using the process in one area with 7 boxes we could discount 2 due to located by station and shopping area and with the other 5 we could only consider two for COD status due to the walking time limit.

Background
1.1 This consultation concerns the regulation of the provision of post boxes in the UK and sets out Ofcom's proposal to extend regulatory protection to all UK delivery points via a modification to the designated universal service provider (DUSP) conditions. (-1-)

1.2 Ofcom's primary duty under the Postal Services Act 2011 is to carry out our functions in relation to postal services in a way that we consider will secure the provision of a universal postal service. Section 29(6) of the Act requires Ofcom to "secure the provision of sufficient access points to meet the reasonable needs of users of the universal postal service". "Access points" are any box or other facility provided for the purpose of accepting postal items into Royal Mail's network. In practice, this means post boxes and post offices. Royal Mail currently has about 115,500 post boxes, which can be used to send letters and small packets, but not larger items or items requiring a signature. This consultation does not consider any issues in relation to post offices.

1.3 Royal Mail is currently required by DUSP condition 1.8.1 to provide sufficient access points to meet the reasonable needs of users of the universal postal service. (-2-) Royal Mail is considered to have met its general obligation in DUSP 1.8.1 in relation to post boxes if it meets access point criteria set out in DUSP 1.8.2(a).

1.4 The access point criteria set out in DUSP 1.8.2(a) are that: "in each postcode area where the delivery point density is not less than 200 delivery points per square kilometre, not less than 99% of users of postal services are within 500 metres of a letter box". (-3-) On average in the UK there are about 120 delivery points (or addresses) per square km. Therefore, the criteria only cover postcode areas ("PCAs") with a significantly higher than average density of delivery points. (-4-) The criteria exclude most rural areas, and even some cities in PCAs with low overall delivery point density, for example Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Swansea.

The current access point criteria are not fit for purpose
1.5 We consider that the current access point criteria are not fit for purpose because:

They apply only to 61 out of the 121 PCAs - covering less than 20% of the UK's geographic area and about 75-80% of households and businesses.

They do not protect those users who are most likely to need protection - users in rural areas, where post boxes typically have lower volumes of mail and higher costs of collection per item than in urban areas.
1.6 Royal Mail does not meet the criteria in 41 of the 61 high density UK PCAs and would have to relocate about 2,000 post boxes to comply with DUSP 1.8.2(a). Despite Royal Mail's non-compliance, we currently have no evidence of consumer harm or that the current network does not meet the reasonable needs of users now. As set out in this document and annexes, research indicates high satisfaction from users. (-5-) Additionally, both Ofcom (and previously Postcomm) and Royal Mail receive very few complaints from users with regard to post box provision. It is important to note that volumes of mail posted via post boxes are steadily falling year on year at a faster rate than total mail volumes and that on average residential users post one item per week. Royal Mail could have removed a high number of post boxes under the current regulation but has not done so.

1.7 Royal Mail has told us that it has no current plans to materially change the size of the post box network, that it considers that additional density requirement regulation is unnecessary, and that the current requirement should be removed (and not replaced). However, we consider removing the density requirement entirely would not be appropriate at present, in light of our duty under section 29(6).

1.8 We propose to replace the current requirement which leaves some PCAs unprotected from potential post box removals with a national requirement which will ensure a backstop level of consumer protection for all postal users in all PCAs.

Our proposal to modify the current access point criteria
1.9 We propose a significant increase in protection for rural users of the post box network, to address the deficiencies of the current regulatory framework as highlighted above.

1.10 Specifically, we propose a UK-wide access point obligation where:

there should be a post box within 0.5 miles (-6-) by straight line distance of at least 98% of delivery points nationally; and
for the remaining 2% of delivery points, Royal Mail must provide sufficient access points or other means of access to the universal service (e.g. collection on delivery (-7-) from very remote or isolated locations such as farmhouses) to meet the reasonable needs of users.
1.11 Our proposal appropriately reflects findings from our recent research into users' needs which found that users in rural areas were willing to travel 0.5 miles to post a letter, and rural businesses 0.75 miles. (-8-) In relation to the percentage of delivery points covered, our proposal covers the highest possible percentage of addresses that will not require Royal Mail to install additional post boxes, i.e. 98% of addresses across the UK. We do not think a requirement to install new post boxes would be appropriate given falling mail volumes and post box usage.

1.12 We consider that the proposed criteria, which include a general requirement to meet the reasonable needs of users, should be sufficient to protect both rural and urban users and ensure a national network continues to meet their evolving needs.

1.13 In practice, we do not expect a change in post box provision in the short to medium term as a result of our proposal. At the same time, Royal Mail would retain some flexibility to manage its network efficiently, for example by collecting mail as part of delivery rounds (which it is free to do).

Next steps
1.14 We will take into account any evidence from stakeholders in their responses to this consultation. Following this consultation, we will issue a statement to confirm our decision in the summer of 2013.

1.15 We invite views on the proposed new access point criteria, and any other options, set out by this consultation document by 1 May 2013.


Footnotes:

1.- Delivery points are the points at which a postman or woman delivers post. For example, a block of flats may contain numerous households but if mail is delivered to a central point in that block then that will be regarded as one delivery point.

2.- The DUSP conditions were drafted by Ofcom to replicate the previous licence conditions imposed by the former postal regulator Postcomm.

3.- The distance calculation is by straight line rather than by public highway.

4.- A postcode area refers to the first letter(s) in a postcode, for example "SE" in the postcode of Ofcom's address, SE1 9HA.

5.- 92% of business and 89% of residential users were very or fairly satisfied with the location of post boxes in the area local to their business/ in their local area.

6.- About 800 metres or a 9-10 minute walk.
7.- Collection on delivery refers to a case where the post person makes a final collection of mail at the same time that post is delivered in that area.

8.- Ofcom, Review of postal users' needs, 2012, http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consul ... ser-needs/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. As we frequently refer to the research undertaken for this review, we simply refer to the review of postal users needs hereafter.

[tansorboy]

Protect jobs or protect the overtime of a select few?

Unfortunately overtime like everything else in Royal Mail runs on a pseudo-hierarchical basis so Bob the docket queen loses his collection SA, grabs Frank the docket princess's collection SA and so on and so forth until the real loser is Tracy the part-timer trying to get by on a 20 hour contract.

It's a great strapline you've got there but the reality is sometimes rather different.

I like his strap line and, with permission, will use it as my own.

[rainbowwarrior72]

The sad fact is that Royal Mail wanted to take out the pillar boxes all together but were concerned at the media coverage and what impact it would have on the share price even now they are not ruling taking out some of the boxes which have fewer than 50 letters in per day.

The sad thing is that stamp Mail has reduced and these boxes which are moving to delivery have been identified and recorded by collection drivers as having 50 or less items in per day. No company is going to pay SA or hours to collect from such boxes when they could get it done cheaper.

The thing I criticise is that the CWU should have know the HR and earnings effect prior to making an agreement. But anyone who believes that the CWU could have got Royal Mail to pay SA or a duty which involved collecting from pillar boxes with less than 50 items is living in a fantasy world . The fact is that this is the first in a number of moves by Ofcom and Royal Mail to reduce costs and services.

Thanks Dingo for giving us some insight what goes on upstairs in the union. Its people like you who keep people informed and wanting to stay in the union mainly cos you don't feed us bullshit. Always look out for your posts

[Lounge Lizard]

The sad fact is that Royal Mail wanted to take out the pillar boxes all together but were concerned at the media coverage and what impact it would have on the share price even now they are not ruling taking out some of the boxes which have fewer than 50 letters in per day.

The sad thing is that stamp Mail has reduced and these boxes which are moving to delivery have been identified and recorded by collection drivers as having 50 or less items in per day. No company is going to pay SA or hours to collect from such boxes when they could get it done cheaper.

The thing I criticise is that the CWU should have know the HR and earnings effect prior to making an agreement. But anyone who believes that the CWU could have got Royal Mail to pay SA or a duty which involved collecting from pillar boxes with less than 50 items is living in a fantasy world . The fact is that this is the first in a number of moves by Ofcom and Royal Mail to reduce costs and services.

As for "having 50 or less items in per day" I've heard that some boxes on my rural delivery might just have a couple of letters a day, sometimes none.

[hans solo]

collection on delivery in west of scot suspended until after xmas

[Deadly]

Had it started or has the start date just been put back?

We've had the updated plates on the boxes for a few weeks but no sign of anything happening yet.

[Craig_Fairbrass]

Scrapped in our office as delivery are complaining they won't have time to do boxes along with all the other crap they're expected to do.

[Martin Walsh]

Had it started or has the start date just been put back?

We've had the updated plates on the boxes for a few weeks but no sign of anything happening yet.

It won't go onto deliveries until there is a collections best practise revision agreement in place.

[CAMPINGBLUNDERER]

Well it's seems to of worked , one of our boxes in a village is due to be changed so we applied the sticker to it way back when. It used to be fairly busy for a village due to it being sited near a couple of housing estates.

Now we are lucky if there is 5 letters in it come collection as people presume they have missed the pick up and walk to the box by the Post Office , I'm starting to get fed up having to explain why when asked why I'm emptying the box

[tiggle]

There isn't any OT. The collection is now part of Tracey's duty and that's how she is keeping her 20 hours.

There isn't any collection.....

lets have a collection for tracey and then she can leave,
she really is getting on my nerves