Written evidence submitted by Cllr Ed
Townsend, Leader, Liberal Democrat Group, Newport City Council
SUMMARY
I note that these proposals were prepared before
the current round of budget pressures was identified. At the time
this proposal was first raised, the then Minister rejected the
proposal.
However, I also note the need to ensure value for
public money during the current period of reduced public spending.
I believe that this can be achieved without the loss of frontline
services from Newport, and present my arguments below.
I write in the capacity as Leader of the Liberal
Democrat group on Newport City Council - and refer also to the
detail in the official Newport City Council submission, which
I fully endorse.
1. I note that three hundred jobs could be lost
in Newport if the decision is taken to close the site. The prime
city centre location of the office means that there will likely
be damaging second-tier effects on other shops and services in
the city centre, which are regularly used by both the staff of
the office and the many customers who use the site every day.
2. Compared to other locations served by passport
offices in the UK, Newport's economy is relatively more deprived.
However, Newport generally - and the city centre in particular
- is currently going through a period of co-ordinated regeneration.
The loss of a significant employer from the city centre with the
additional knock-on effects has the potential to damage the excellent
work that is currently being undertaken to improve the economy
of the city.
3. I accept the need for the UK government to
ensure value for public money in all of its operations. However,
ensuring value for money should not be achieved at the expense
of the delivery of services. Given the relatively lower costs
of operating from Newport compared to other parts of the UK, I
believe that Newport is in a prime location to deliver an excellent
service and ensure value for public money at the same time. Continuing
to operate from Newport also chimes well with the general trend
of decentralising government functions from London to other parts
of the UK.
4. I note that the decision to close the Newport
office will leave Wales as the only nation of the UK without its
own passport office, and also the only nation in the EU without
its own passport office. The current geographical spread of passport
offices suggests that the Newport office is well placed to serve
people not only in Wales, but also across the south west of England
and parts of the Midlands as well.
5. I believe that there is a unique case for
maintaining a passport office in Newport, based on the need to
provide Welsh language services. Unlike other parts of the UK,
Wales has a need for a system which serves customers in two languages.
If the Newport office were to be closed, then this could potentially
result in the loss of Welsh language provision completely, or
result in one of the other offices having to provide that function.
It is not desirable to see the end of Welsh language provision
and it is not practical for one of the other passport offices
to provide the service.
6. With these arguments in mind, I believe that
the Newport office has a strong case to remain open and to continue
providing the excellent services that people have come to expect.
8 November 2010
| 
