Councillors in Rhondda Cynon Taf have voiced their opposition to the planned closure of Barclays bank in Aberdare.
They have agreed for the leader to write to the bank to reconsider the closure of the branch.
A notice of motion was passed at full council on Wednesday, December 15 raising concern about the trend of bank closures in recent years in RCT.
The Aberdare branch is set to close on March 8, 2022 with the next nearest branches being in Merthyr and Pontypridd.
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The motion, submitted by Councillor Steve Bradwick and the Labour group, highlighted the council’s opposition to the closure of the Aberdare branch.
It said: “Banks should be an essential service in our communities, giving residents convenient access to their finances and allowing them to take care of their affairs.
“They are often situated in the heart of our town centres, in close proximity to other vital facilities and shops.
“The notice that Barclays are intending to close their branch at Victoria Square in Aberdare in March 2022 is the latest (potential) withdrawal of financial services from communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf and, should the plans go ahead, will have a detrimental impact, not just to our residents in accessing facilities, but also to the vibrancy of our town centres.
“The council has worked hard to make our town centres attractive and welcoming hubs of the communities they serve, especially after the exceptional difficulties faced by local traders over the past 18 months.
“Aberdare has already seen NatWest and HSBC withdraw their services from the town, whilst Treforest, Treorchy, Porth and Mountain Ash are among the other areas to have also seen banks close over recent years.
“The assurances provided by Barclays that Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd are the closest services will be scant consolation to many, with both journeys taking between 40 and 50 minutes each way."
The motion suggests that the council wishes to record its opposition to the closure of Barclays Bank in Aberdare and resolves to request the leader of the council to write to the head of corporate relations Wales and West and the chief executive of Barclays Bank to call for the plans to be reconsidered.
It also requested that the council seeks to ensure that the social benefits of maintaining a local banking presence in its communities forms part of its future relationships with the banking sector.
Cllr Bradwick, of Aberdare East, said: “This is enough. We’ve had enough. These banks make so much money they do not care about the elderly people in our communities.”
Plaid Cymru tabled an amendment which called for a joint report from the chief executive, the 151 officer and the monitoring officer to be brought forward to council on the option of changing the council’s bankers from Barclays.
It also called on the council to note the Welsh Government’s announcement to develop and launch a new community bank of Wales with a headquarters in Wales and that the council further call on Welsh Government to accelerate the establishment and roll out of Banc Cambria which aims to open high street branches in towns throughout Wales.
It also proposed that the Co-operative Bank be mentioned as one of the banks that has closed a branch in Aberdare.
However Labour voted against the amendment because the council has a contractual relationship with Barclays to provide corporate banking services and the contract does not include provisions mandating local branches.
Although Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of the council, said he endorsed many of the comments made, he said: “It would not be lawful to terminate the contract taking matters into account that are not directly linked to the contract.”
But he said when the contract is up for renewal at the end of the next calendar year there could be the opportunity for social clauses to be considered then.
The amendment fell with the original motion being passed.
Councillor Pauline Jarman, leader of the Plaid Cymru group on the council, said: “It is disappointing that the Labour Party did not support Plaid Cymru’s amendment for it would have made Barclays sit up and notice especially since the Welsh Government announced proposed changes in banking in Wales just this week described as a banking revolution.
“If Barclays do close the Aberdare branch then Plaid Cymru has proposed that the council acquires the building and invites those who are interested in delivering a community bank for Wales with high street branches, to open its first high street bank in Aberdare.
“This would bring such a prominent building in the town centre back into use for the benefit of the public.”
A Barclays spokesman said: “The decision to close a branch is never an easy one.
"However, customers are increasingly using alternatives to branches to do their banking. As a result, we are seeing a sustained fall in branch visits across the UK.
"This ongoing change in behaviour means we are seeing a sustained fall in customer transactions across our network.
“At the Aberdare branch we can identify that transactions are down by 20% and 82% of our customers at the branch are using alternative ways in which to undertake their banking, including via the telephone, online and mobile app.
“We will work with our customers and provide alternative options to ensure they can continue to manage their money and receive financial expertise when required.”
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