Postcomm reviews its consultation procedures
31 July 2003
Postcomm today began a three-month review of its consultation procedures by asking its stakeholders for their views. Published for consultation, the draft revised procedures follow two years of consultation and decision-making by Postcomm with stake-holders in the postal services market.
The review aims to ensure Postcomm’s consultation processes reflect best practice, take account of the needs of stakeholders and are soundly based and readily understood.
“We recognise the difficulty of reconciling these objectives in the eyes of all stakeholders, the document says. “We have recently been criticised on the one hand for being too slow, and on the other for not allowing sufficient time for consultation”.
Draft proposals in the review take account of current Cabinet Office guidelines, Postcomm’s experience and a review of the practices of other regulators. In particular Postcomm is seeking comments on:
- how long it should consult on different types of issues
- how best to handle multi-stage consultations, such as its market opening proposals, which involved three consultations over 18 months.
Notes for editors
The review document, Postcomm Review of Consultation Procedures, will be available shortly from Postcomm at Hercules House, 6 Hercules Road, London SE1 7DB. The consultation period ends on 25 October 2003.
