Agenda item

This Council notes with great concern the recent announcement by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to close another 162 branches across the country. The Council further notes that 31 of these closures are to be in Greater Manchester and 5 in Stockport - Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Cheadle, Heaton Chapel and Stockport Town centre.

The Council believes that these proposed closures will massively inconvenience local residents and small businesses who continue to prefer to conduct their banking arrangements through a high street branch and rejects the increasing assumption that internet banking is the right choice for everyone.  Experience shows that certain groups, including older people, will be especially inconvenienced by the proposed branch closures.

In particular, the Council condemns the proposal to close the RBS branch in Cheadle Hulme, which will mean the loss of the last remaining banking facility in this community, following the closure of the Nat West branch in 2016.

Noting that RBS is owned by the tax payer and that many jobs will be lost in addition to the reduction in service should the proposed closures go ahead, the Council resolves to write to the Chief Executive of RBS to demand a re-think and also write to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee to ask for an investigation into the whole issue of bank branch closures.

Moved by:                  Councillor Suzanne Wyatt

Seconded by:            Councillor John Pantall

MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes with great concern the recent announcement by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to close another 162 branches across the country. The Council further notes that 31 of these closures are to be in Greater Manchester and 5 in Stockport - Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Cheadle, Heaton Chapel and Stockport Town centre.

The Council believes that these proposed closures will massively inconvenience local residents and small businesses who continue to prefer to conduct their banking arrangements through a high street branch and rejects the increasing assumption that internet banking is the right choice for everyone.  Experience shows that certain groups, including older people, will be especially inconvenienced by the proposed branch closures.

In particular, the Council condemns the proposal to close the RBS branch in Cheadle Hulme, which will mean the loss of the last remaining banking facility in this community, following the closure of the Nat West branch in 2016.

Noting that RBS is owned by the tax payer and that many jobs will be lost in addition to the reduction in service should the proposed closures go ahead, the Council resolves to write to the Chief Executive of RBS to demand a re-think and also write to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee to ask for an investigation into the whole issue of bank branch closures.

AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council notes with great concern the recent announcement by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to close another 162 branches across the country. The Council further notes that 31 of these closures are to be in Greater Manchester and 5 in Stockport - Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Cheadle, Heaton Chapel and Stockport Town centre.

The Council believes that these proposed closures will massively inconvenience local residents and small businesses who continue to prefer to conduct their banking arrangements through a high street branch and rejects the increasing assumption that internet banking is the right choice for everyone.  Experience shows that certain groups, including older people, will be especially inconvenienced by the proposed branch closures.

In particular, the Council condemns the proposal to close the RBS branch in Cheadle Hulme, which will mean the loss of the last remaining banking facility in this community, following the closure of the Nat West branch in 2016.

Noting that RBS is owned by the tax payer and that many jobs will be lost in addition to the reduction in service should the proposed closures go ahead, the Council resolves to write to the Chief Executive of RBS to;

·         request that the decision to close these 5 branches is halted in light of the Council’s and many residents’ concerns to allow further consideration and consultation;

·         That Bank officials meet with Council Officers and Ward Councillors of the affected branches to discuss the potential to keep an RBS branch open; and

·         In the specific case of Cheadle Hulme, that RBS maintain the current banking arrangement for at least one year to allow local Ward members the opportunity to make the case for a permanent RBS banking facility for Cheadle Hulme businesses and residents.

This Council further resolves to request that the Chief Executive writes to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee to ask for an investigation into the whole issue of bank branch closures which specifically includes Stockport.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The amendment was then put as the substantive motion and it was

RESOLVED - This Council notes with great concern the recent announcement by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to close another 162 branches across the country. The Council further notes that 31 of these closures are to be in Greater Manchester and 5 in Stockport - Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Cheadle, Heaton Chapel and Stockport Town centre.

The Council believes that these proposed closures will massively inconvenience local residents and small businesses who continue to prefer to conduct their banking arrangements through a high street branch and rejects the increasing assumption that internet banking is the right choice for everyone.  Experience shows that certain groups, including older people, will be especially inconvenienced by the proposed branch closures.

In particular, the Council condemns the proposal to close the RBS branch in Cheadle Hulme, which will mean the loss of the last remaining banking facility in this community, following the closure of the Nat West branch in 2016.

Noting that RBS is owned by the tax payer and that many jobs will be lost in addition to the reduction in service should the proposed closures go ahead, the Council resolves to write to the Chief Executive of RBS to;

·         request that the decision to close these 5 branches is halted in light of the Council’s and many residents’ concerns to allow further consideration and consultation;

·         That Bank officials meet with Council Officers and Ward Councillors of the affected branches to discuss the potential to keep an RBS branch open; and

·         In the specific case of Cheadle Hulme, that RBS maintain the current banking arrangement for at least one year to allow local Ward members the opportunity to make the case for a permanent RBS banking facility for Cheadle Hulme businesses and residents.

This Council further resolves to request that the Chief Executive writes to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee to ask for an investigation into the whole issue of bank branch closures which specifically includes Stockport.