Dear Colleague,
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023 – MOTIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND NOMINATIONS
INTRODUCTION
The 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 October 2023. The precise times for the start and finish of the AGM will be advised after the Standing Orders Committee has considered the number of Motions submitted and the order of business for the AGM.
The usual procedures for arranging Hotel accommodation for the AGM will apply again, there will be no need for Branches or Groups to book accommodation for their representatives. CSPA HQ can make all the required bookings direct with the Hotel. More information will be given in the relevant Group Circular, to be issued towards the end of July 2023, giving details of AGM charges, and requesting that Branches & Groups provide details of their delegates and sponsored representatives (observers). This year we will also ask for the names of those willing to act as tellers (4 volunteers in total are required).
Branches & Groups are therefore, now invited to submit Motions and Constitutional Amendments for debate at the AGM and Nominations for the posts of elected Officers and Executive Committee members.
Guidance on the wording of Motions, Constitutional Amendments and the Nomination & Election procedures are provided in Appendix IV of the latest version of the Advice to Groups in England and Wales booklet. Standing Orders Committee have also stated that ideally, motions should be kept brief and deal only with one subject, specifying action to be taken and by whom.
Branches & Groups are strongly advised to read this advice before submitting Motions, Amendments and making Nominations. Also please note that all Motions must relate to issues of primary and direct concern to pensioners – Rule 2 applies.
If after consulting guidance, a Branch or Group wants advice on how to word a Motion, particularly about the provisions of Rule 2, or whether a particular marking is likely to apply, please do not hesitate to contact CSPA HQ in advance of formal submission.
The deadline for receipt of Motions, Nominations and Constitutional Amendments at Headquarters Office, Croydon is 12.00 noon Friday 7 July 2022
First class post can often take several days to reach HQ, which should be borne in mind when posting. We will also accept scanned and signed copies. Please send scanned copies by email to Sally.tsoukaris@cspa.co.uk entitled “AGM Motion 2023”.
The enclosed forms (1 copy of each) should be used to submit Motions (YELLOW) Nominations (GREEN) and Constitutional Amendments (BLUE) and should be signed by both the Chairman and Secretary of the Group or Branch in accordance with Rule 7(e) (iii) of the Rules & Constitution.
MOTIONS
Standing Orders Committee will try to be flexible when applying the relevant regulations but has requested that those submitting motions ensure that they are kept brief, deal with one subject and specify clear action to be taken.
A reminder that the following are CSPA policy priorities:
- Civil Service Pensions
- Economic Impact on Pensions and Pensioner entitlements,
- Access to Health Services,
- Financial and Digital Exclusion,
- Social Care
- Cost of Living Crisis
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Groups & Branches are entitled to pursue whatever Constitutional Amendments they wish however, they may wish to alert the Executive Council to any proposed changes to the Constitution that they are considering, so that constructive dialogue can take place before the terms of any planned Constitutional Amendments are set. The Executive Council (EC) will be able to let the Group or Branch know at an early stage whether it would be supporting the Constitutional Amendment and/or suggest any appropriate redrafting. Any correspondence on such matters should be directed by post, to CSPA HQ; by email, to david.luxton@cspa.co.uk (acting GS) by telephone, to 020 8688 8418 (office)
NOMINATIONS
It would help HQ if Branches & Groups could check with all nominees that they are willing to stand for the intended posts.
Details of current post holders are in GC 928 which shared the election results of the 2022 AGM.
There are five NEC posts up for nomination this year. Following the rule changes carried at the AGM in 2022, two of the posts are reserved for a woman.
Roisin Lilley is currently in post in one of the NEC seats reserved for a woman, having been elected during the year.
Groups may find the following information useful. The General Secretary has been notified that the following Executive Council members will not be standing for re-election to their current posts at the 2023 AGM:
Michael Lawler, Secretary Organisation (this post is being abolished following rule changes carried at the last AGM) The Secretary Organisation post will be replaced with an NEC post reserved for a woman.
Don Makepeace, Chair, Don Makepeace does not wish to be nominated for Chair, this year. However, he is willing to be nominated as Vice Chair.
Linda Ridgers- Waite who has been acting Chair, is willing to be nominated for Chair.
CONCLUSION
Should you have any questions or need clarifications about any aspect of the contents of this Group Circular, please don’t hesitate to contact me either by phone – 020 8688 8418 (office)-or by email – lisa.ray@cspa.co.uk.
NB: I will be standing down as CSPA General Secretary on 9 June 2023. David Luxton will be acting GS until my successor is in post. Thank you to all groups for your work and support for CSPA.