Postwatch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Postwatch (officially: the Consumer Council for Postal Services - CCPS) was set up in January of 2001 - by Section 2 of the Postal Services Act 2000 to help customers with any issues or complaints they have with any Postal Service (including the Royal Mail) in the United Kingdom. Postwatch also works closely with Postcomm, the Postal Services Commission.
It is not part of the British Civil Service, but being publicly funded, it is accountable to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
[edit] Role
Postwatch works to ensure customers receive the best possible postal service. Activities include:
- Campaign for improvements to postal services.
- Investigate and address local and national postal problems and issues
- Resolve individual complaints against licensed operators, pursuing also generic issues raised.
- Lobby decision-makers on behalf of customers
- Negotiate and monitor Royal Mail's performance against service targets.
- Advise Postcomm on appropriate action should Royal Mail Group fail to meet performance targets, or breach any other licence conditions.
- Inform customers about postal issues and market developments.
- Promote service innovation and improvement, as well as customer choice.
As well as dealing with consumer queries and complaints, Postwatch investigates matters that are relevant to users of UK postal services or relating to the number and location of post offices.
[edit] Structure
Postwatch is directed by an appointed part-time Council (with an appointed Chair), and a Chief Executive (not a Council Member). As of 2006, the Chief Executive is Howard Webber.
The Council members are listed below, along with their responsibilities (if applicable):
- Millie Banerjee CBE (Chair)
- Professor Alan Alexander (Chairman Scotland)
- Christina Baron (Chairman South & West)
- Sheila Button (Chair SE England)
- Roger Darlington (Chairman Greater London)
- Judith Donovan CBE (Chairman North of England)
- Dr Maureen Edmondson (Chairman Northern Ireland)
- Najma Hafeez (Chairman Midlands)
- Eifion Pritchard QPM (Chairman Wales)
- Dr Charles Winstanley (Chairman East of England)
- Sheila Button
- Helen Charlton
- Professor David Croisdale-Appleby
- Elizabeth Hodder
- Nigel Walmsley
