The following information will be of use for all those attending the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM). In accordance with the preferences received from Groups and Branches, CSPA HQ has booked rooms at the Chesford Grange Hotel and ordered the menu choices for the AGM Dinner.
All sessions of the AGM will be held in the KENILWORTH SUITE of the Chesford Grange Hotel; the AGM inner will also be held in the KENILWORTH SUITE on the evening of Wednesday 9 October 2024.
Transport Arrangements from and to Coventry Rail Station
CSPA has arranged transport for delegates and others attending the AGM to and from Coventry Station Eaton Road, Coventry CV1 2GT. A mini-bus shuttle service will be departing from the station for the hesford Grange Hotel at 11.00am, and 12.30pm on Wednesday 9 October 2024. If you require this service but have not yet booked your place for one of the departure times, please contact CSPA HQ urgently on 020 8688 8418 to do so, but please bear in mind that CSPA HQ will be closed, before the AGM, from 5.00pm on 7 October 2024.
Roisin Lilley (Vice Chair) and Benedetta Makanju (Deputy Office Manager) will attend Coventry Rail Station, armed with clipboards and standing in a prominent position near the exit from the main ticket hall to welcome and direct colleagues to the minibuses. Lifts are available on every platform at Coventry Rail Station, so that those with cases and bags will not have to carry them up and down the stairs. If you need to contact Benedetta, please call 07827 291 073 to speak to her.
If you will be arriving at Coventry Rail Station after 12.30pm, you will need to take a taxi to the Hotel, sharing, if possible, with others attending the AGM. You may claim the cost of the taxi on your
expenses claim form. Those travelling to the Hotel on Tuesday 8 October 2024 will also need to take taxis, again, sharing whenever possible.
The AGM concludes at 3.00pm on Thursday 10 October 2024, and a coach has been booked and will be available to transport delegates, observers & guests to the Station at 3.15 pm, the coach will return to the hotel for a final departure to the Station at 4.00 pm.
Hotel details
Hotel policy is that rooms are available from 3.00pm; however, the Hotel has undertaken to do its best to ensure that bedrooms will be available on arrival, but much will depend on the number of guests they had the night before. If required, luggage storage will be made available. The CSPA has secured assurances from the Hotel that there will be sufficient experienced staff on duty to ensure that check-in takes place with the minimum of delay.
The direct line for the Hotel is 01926 515 112.
DEPARTURE All bedrooms need to be vacated by 11.00am on the day of departure. Again, luggage storage will be available if required.
CAR PARKING There is ample free car parking in the Hotel grounds.
CREDIT/DEBIT CARD FACILITIES If guests require credit/debit card facilities within the Hotel during their stay, a swipe of their card will be taken upon registration.
Registration for Delegates and Guests
Registration will take place on Wednesday from 10.30am in the KENILWORTH FOYER opposite the KENILWORTH SUITE. This is for all Delegates and Guests attending the AGM to pick up their Delegate acks and Credentials. HQ Staff will be in attendance to assist and welcome you.
Seminar for New Delegates
A Seminar has been arranged, starting at 1.30pm on Wednesday 9 October 2024, for new delegates (and ot so new delegates, if they wish), to provide a briefing on AGM procedures. David Luxton (Deputy eneral Secretary) will be taking new delegates through those procedures. The Seminar will finish at 1.50 pm, so that all are able to take their places for the formal start of the AGM.
The seminar will be held in the DIRECTORS’ SUITE, situated on the floor above the KENILWORTH SUITE and accessed by a separate lift and stairs. New delegates may also wish to familiarise themselves with CSPA’s AGM procedures by reading the Guide for New Delegates which was circulated under cover of GC 959 / 24. Please contact HQ if you did not receive a copy and would like one, and we can send you one for your reference in advance of the event.
Videos & Photos
Please note that CSPA will have a professional photographer in attendance taking photos at the CSPA AGM on Wednesday 9 October, including at the AGM Dinner. This notice means that you have been fully nformed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the AGM. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitute your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with the CSPA and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. Images will be stored securely, and we will archive them after they are no longer needed for publicity purposes.
Note – please call HQ or email us at benedetta.makanju@cspa.co.uk should you wish to withdraw your consent to the above at any time.
Stands
The following stands will be on display at the AGM:
CSPA – HQ staff will be on hand to deal with enquiries at the registration desk.
Charity for Civil Servants (CfCS) Hannah Morris and Guilliana Castle from the CfCS will be
present to promote its services.
RNLI Pauline Smart from the RNLI will be available to provide details of the current work of The Lifeboat
Fund and the RNLI and sell branded merchandise.
Fred Olsen Jessica Fowler and Ellie Fulcher from the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines will be present to promote its services to our members.
Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS) Ann Pelaez and Spencer Barden will be on hand to Insurance Society answer any queries about our Travel, Home and Car insurance offers.
Harvey Howell John Howell will be attending from solicitors Harvey Solicitors Howell, to offer members help with advice on Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney, in conjunction with Affinity Resolutions.
Other Advisors Available
The following CSPA business partners will be making themselves available to advise and assist delegates during the course of the AGM –
Affinity Resolutions/Regulatory Solutions Our Data Protection & Privacy advisors, Bernard Seymour and Suzanne Lurie, will be on hand to answer any enquiries and provide delegates withany advice they may need in this regard.
BC Technologies Conal O’Gorman from BC Technologies will be available throughout the AGM to provide advice and deal with any IT-related queries you may have, including ways to stay safe online.
Guest Speakers
You will see that the agenda makes provision for guest speakers. The Chair will call guest speakers to speak when appropriate opportunities & openings arise during the conduct of the business of the AGM.
The AGM’s speakers this year will be –
David Halliwell
Senior Counsel
Connect
David will be providing a brief overview of the post-election landscape, highlighting the challenges and opportunities the current political climate presents for CSPA and Later Life Ambitions’ campaigns.
Bernard Seymour
Affinity Resolutions/Regulatory Solutions
Bernard is CSPA’s Data Protection Officer, as well as providing our members with a free legal elpline/signposting service on legal matters. Bernard will provide the AGM with a brief update on the equirements of Groups and Branches under the GDPR and other legislation relevant to data protection.
Matthew Armsby
BC Technologies
Matthew will give a short presentation on How to Protect Yourself Against Online Scams and Fraud, iving us an overview of the latest ploys and tactics being used, as well as where and how to access help and nformation in this regard.
John Perryman
Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Carers UK
John will speak at the outset of our session debating health and social carerelated matters. He will give s an update on Carers UK’s current campaigns, including on the issues around the Carers Allowance Overpayments and the urgent need for a new national framework for the provision of social care services. John also co-chairs some of the meetings CSPA are part of under the banner of the Carer Poverty coalition.
Ann Pelaez
Managing Director
Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS)
Ann will be telling us about their wonderful and dedicated team, who are on hand to assist CSPA members with discounted quotes and enquiries relating to travel, home, pet and car insurance, including the popular new travel insurance scheme launched earlier on in the summer.
Jan Shortt
General Secretary
National Pensioners Convention
Jan will give us an overview of the NPC’s current campaign priorities and will also update us on their work in support of the high-profile campaigns against the changes to Winter Fuel Payments, amongst other things.
List of Group Delegates, Representatives and Guests
Enclosed with this Circular, you will find copies of the list of the delegates, sponsored representatives, observers, and guests who will be attending the AGM, for your information and so that you are able to contact friends & colleagues, if appropriate.
First Aid Cover
The CSPA has arranged for a representative from First Aid Cover Ltd to be present during all sessions of the AGM to assist with any emergencies.
AGM Dinner
All attending will be asked to make their way to the AGM Dinner in the KENILWORTH SUITE on Wednesday 9 October 2024 at 7.45pm for an 8.00pm start.
You will find enclosed a copy of the centrally allocated placements for the AGM Dinner for all those who will be attending. A selection of wine will be included with the dinner. Further drinks can be purchased from the bar.
The After-Dinner informal business will consist of a raffle, with prizes kindly donated by guests. Each attendee will find a raffle ticket at their table place. We will also be presenting Certificates of Merit.
Tuesday Evening Dinner
For those staying over on the Tuesday evening, a private buffet dinner will be served in the AVON ROOM, between 7.00pm and 11.00pm. These meals will be included in the cost of the package agreed with the otel. You will, however, need to purchase your own drinks.
Anyone staying on the Thursday evening will need to make their own arrangements and pay the hotel directly.
Breakfast
Breakfast will be served each morning between 6.30am and 9.30am in the RIVER ROOM.
Buffet Lunches
Buffet lunches will be served on both Wednesday and Thursday in the RIVER
ROOM between 12.30pm and 13.15pm.
Expenses and Claims
Please scan or photocopy the AGM Expenses Claim form and receipts and send them by email to M.Sparham@cspa.co.uk or alternatively, post them to –
FREEPOST RTRX-RKUY-SELT, CSPA, Grosvenor House, 125 High Street,
Croydon CR0 9XP; marking the envelope “AGM Expenses”.
Payment will be made by bank transfer. Completed forms with receipts may also be handed to the National Treasurer or HQ staff at the AGM, but no payments will be made at the AGM.
Problems
In the unlikely event that you may have any problems with the Hotel’s accommodation and/or services, you should direct any such concerns to Marion McAuliffe (HQ’s Finance & AGM Manager), who will be acting as CSPA’s official liaison with the hotel management.
I hope that all those attending the AGM have a good journey to Kenilworth and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the AGM.
Copies of the Supplementary Standing Orders Committee (SOC) Report No. 1 will be made available to all delegates at the start of the AGM. If you have any questions or require any further information about the matters covered by this Group Circular, please don’t hesitate to contact me, either by emailing benedetta.makanju@cspa.co.uk or by telephone on 020 8688 8418
(Office)/07827 291 073 (Mobile).
Yours sincerely
Sally
Sally Tsoukaris
General Secretary
Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance
Tel: 020 8688 8418
Email: sally.tsoukaris@cspa.co.uk
