CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONERS' ALLIANCE

1. Group Officers

2. Meetings
 
Dates for future Meetings have been set as follows:-
1) GENERAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16TH 2008, REPORT ON FUTURE OF NHS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH 2008, GROUP A.G.M
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4TH 2008, MOTIONS FOR NATIONAL AGM
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1ST 2008, MANDATING MEETING FOR NATIONAL AGM
 
2) COMMITTEE MEETINGS
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12TH 2007
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH 2008
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH 2008
WEDNESDAY JULY 16TH 2008
WEDNESDAY OCT. 29TH 2008
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH 2008
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 11TH 2009
 
All Meetings will commence at Commencing 1.00 p.m in CENTRAL METHODIST HALL, OLDHAM ST. MANCHESTER.
 
3. CSPA National AGM
 
The CSPA National AGM was held on Oct.10th and 11th 2007 at a Hotel in Coventry. We had three motions on the Agenda. The first, which sought to initiate a debate to change the way Local Groups are funded was heavily defeated so we will be continuing to issue Annual Appeals to Members for funding. The second Motion instructed the Executive to look at what action (including legal action) is possible on the issue of Government mis-using National Insurance Contributions to fund "capital projects" instead of increasing Basic State pensions. The motion was carried and now forms part of National Policy. We will be watching how the Executive take the matter forward. The third motion instructs the Executive to carefully monitor any local proposals on Congestion Charging and to oppose anything which is not in the Members best interests. The Motion was "remitted" which means that the Executive take on board the principles of the Motion whilst not accepting the precise wording of the motion. The other major debate was about the Executive's proposal that we should create a "Pensioners Political Party" and seek to stand Candidates in the next General Election. The Motion was carried and we are now awaiting directions from the Executive as to how we take the matter forward.
 
Other important decisions which were taken included:-

1. Taking up the Liberal Democrats comments that they would reduce the "generous Public Sector Pensions" to pay for an increase in the Basic State Pension. We will be pointing out that Civil Service Pensions are not "generous", they did form part of our |Pay Settlements and are therefore part of our legally binding Contract of Service and in any case there is a £34billion surplus in the National Insurance Fund therefore there is no need to touch our Civil Service Pension.
2. Campaigning to increase the Personal Expenses Allowance for people living in Care Homes from £19-00 to £40-00 per week
3. Increasing the Funding of Hospices so that they get the full cost for the work they do for the NHS.
4. Press for a fundamental Review of the Out-of-hours medical care service.
5. Campaign for action to be taken on the Lyons Report which argued that Council Tax should be reviewed and be on the basis of ability to pay.
6. To continue to press for everyone to have easy access to local Post Offices.
7. With the advent of free Bus Travel for Pensioners to campaign to ensure that all Disabled Pensioners and people who cannot use buses have a free token system in place to pay for private/council transport
8. To extent the Free Parking Provision to all people over the age of 80 (whether or not they are classed as "disabled)
9. Call for free technical support for Pensioners during the changeover to Digital TV
10. The Executive to seek to oppose plans by the Banks to impose a charge of £5-£25 on any customer who does not either deposit £1500 a month or maintain a balance of at least £1500 in their account throughout the year

Your Local Committee has met to consider these results and we will be joining the various campaigns wherever possible.
 
4. N.H.S.
 
The Meeting scheduled for October 31st 2007 which was to be addressed by Paul Mainwaring, Chair of the Manchester Patients Council did not take place because Paul was taken ill. We have re-scheduled this Meeting for Jan. 16th 2008 commencing 1.00p.m in the First Floor Lounge, Central Hall, Oldham St., Manchester
 
5. INTERNET BULLETINS
 
We are placing this notice on the CSPA national website www.cspa.co.uk This is a new initiative which is being trialled for the Manchester Area (and perhaps 3 or 4 others. We would be interested in your views as to whether it is a useful service.
 
As well as using this site for a regular Newsletter, we are also experimenting with what I am told is called a "Blog" The idea is that a Newsletter is basically a one-way street - we tell you what is going on but you can't tell us what you think. A "blog" is a two-way street which allows you to comment on what we are doing and to see what other people think about what we are doing. The "Blog" can be accessed by typing http://cspaman.blogspot.com/ into your search engine. Please let us have your comments and details of any problems you encounter.