Postwatch 2926726 225478053 2008-07-13T22:15:18Z Ninetyone 1108813 [[Non-Departmental Public Body]] [[Image:Postwatchlogo.gif|right]]'''Postwatch''' (officially: the '''Consumer Council for Postal Services''' - CCPS) is a [[Non-Departmental Public Body]] set up in January of 2001 - by [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00026--b.htm#2 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]]. ==Role== Postwatch works to ensure customers receive the best possible [[postal service]]. Activities include: * Campaign for improvements to [[postal service]]s. * 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]]. ==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]] ==External links== *[http://www.postwatch.co.uk Postwatch Website] *[http://www.postcomm.gov.uk Postcomm Website] *[http://www.royalmail.com Royal Mail Website] *[http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po Post Office Website] *[http://www.parcelforce.com/portal/pw/home Parcelforce Worldwide Website] *[http://www.dti.gov.uk/sectors/postalservices/ DBERR Postal Services Website - Postwatch Information] [[Category:Royal Mail| ]] [[Category:Postal system of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform]] [[Category:Non-Departmental Public Bodies of the United Kingdom government]] [[no:Postwatch]]