DVLA seeks to close regional offices

13 Dec 11
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency today began consulting on the closure of its 49 local and regional offices.
By Vivienne Russell | 13 December 2011

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency today began consulting on the closure of its 49 local and regional offices.

With increasing take up of its online services the DVLA says it needs to streamline and centralise services at its Swansea headquarters.

The agency has a network of 39 local offices providing over-the-counter services to 2.5 million customers each year. There are also 10 regional centres which enforce offences such as failure to tax vehicles.

Together these services account for almost a quarter (23.3%) of the agency’s headcount, but deliver only 5.7% of its workload, the consultation document states. It is proposed that these offices are taken out of service by the end of 2013.

Transport minister Mike Penning said: ‘The proposals could deliver significant efficiencies with an estimated £28m year on year saving.

‘I believe these changes will bring service improvements, better value for money and a faster, more responsive service for customers, while at the same time delivering greater productivity from the DVLA’s workforce.’

But the Public and Commercial Services union reacted angrily to the announcement saying it made ‘no economic sense’ and would be ‘fiercely resisted’ with industrial action ‘very likely’.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘With unemployment and inflation remaining high, these cuts to local communities are outrageous and unnecessary, and will further weaken economies crying out for investment.

‘DVLA senior managers have previously denied this is what they were planning, so to announce it just two weeks before Christmas is insulting and devastating for staff.’

The consultation runs until March 6.

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