Dear Colleague,
- RESULT OF BALLOT FOR NEC POST RESERVED FOR A WOMAN
- UPDATE ON TEMPORARY COVER FOR GROUPS IN WALES AND THE MIDLAND REGION
- GENERAL SECRETARY VACANCY
- LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MAY – REMINDER! TAKE YOUR PHOTO ID
- WEBINARS ON MCCLOUD REMEDY
- CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONER NEWSLETTER- SPRING 2023
- CONSULTATION ON THE REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL AND GROUP STRUCTURE
1.RESULT OF BALLOT FOR NEC POST RESERVED FOR A WOMAN
GC 934 invited groups to vote for one of three nominated women candidates to take up the post of NEC member. Following a count of the votes cast on Tuesday by the Chief Teller and Scrutineer overseen by the Deputy General Secretary, on Tuesday 4 April, the results are as follows:
Name Votes
Pam Flynn 2,452
Roisin Lilley 11,607
Rosemary White 5,231
Therefore, Roisin Lilley is duly elected to the new National Executive Ordinary member post. Thank you to the candidates that put themselves forward for this newly created post to encourage greater diversity on the Executive Council.
2. UPDATE ON TEMPORARY COVER FOR GROUPS IN WALES AND THE MIDLAND REGION
GC 934 also carried the news that there had been no nominations for a representative for groups in Wales or the Midland Region.
In response to the vacancy for a Regional Representative for the Midlands Region, Executive Council member, and North-West Regional Representative, Harry Brett will cover the Midlands region on a temporary basis until the AGM in October, covering the following groups: Birmingham & District; Gloucestershire; Leicestershire & Rutland; and West Mercia.
We are grateful to Harry for covering the Midlands vacancy while he continues to be the North-West Regional Representative, with additional temporary support from Phil Sharpe of the Liverpool Group. Thanks to Phil for offering to help with the North-West Regional Representative role.
The vacancy for a Representative to cover Wales is being filled on a temporary basis by Mike Lawler, Secretary (Organisation). There are now two open local groups in Wales: North Wales and West Wales. The Southeast Wales group reluctantly decided to close in February. We are grateful to Mike for offering to cover the Wales Representative role in addition to his own responsibilities as Secretary (Organisation).
3. GENERAL SECRETARY VACANCY
After nearly 10 years working at CSPA I will be moving on from my role as General Secretary in the summer. During my time here there has been a lot of challenging work to shape the CSPA into a more modern and professional organisation. The foundations are now laid for CSPA to continue building membership to ensure its important work continues.
CSPA are seeking a new General Secretary to continue to develop strategy to meet requirements and expectations of new retirees and existing members. An advert has been placed on the CSPA website https://www.cspa.co.uk/news/join-us-general-secretary/.
Groups are asked to share this with any contacts they think would be interested in the role. Application packs are also available by email from sally.tsoukaris@cspa.co.uk. On a personal note, I would like to thank all groups for their support during my time at CSPA and to wish you well for the future.
4. LOCAL ELECTIONS MAY – REMINDER! TAKE YOUR PHOTO ID
The GS update in the Spring Pensioner magazine highlighted that from 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. This will apply to:
- Local elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
- UK parliamentary by-elections
- Recall petitions
From October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.
Accepted forms of photo ID
You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.
International travel
Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country.
Driving and Parking
Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
A Blue Badge
Local travel
Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom Oyster 60+ Card funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, Freedom Pass, Scottish National Entitlement Card,60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card, Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card, Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland, Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland, 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland, Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it’s out of date, if it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
5. WEBINARS ON MCCLOUD REMEDY
Preparations are well underway for the CSPA led webinars being held with the Cabinet Office on 25th April and 3rd May.
Registration for both events are now open. (find out if the Remedy impacts you)This online seminar would be only suitable for those with remedial service who:
- have yet to retire from active service.
- have a deferred pension.
- are already retired.
Christine Haswell, Personal Pensions Cases Manager for the CSPA and Stella Humphries, the 2015 Remedy Stakeholder Manager working with supporting Civil Service and Post Office Pensions for the Cabinet Office will give you information on the changes and answer questions you may have about the Remedy.
Tues 25th April: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/your-civil-service-pension-changes-under-the-remedy-mccloud-25th-april-tickets-566729893367
Weds 3rd May: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/your-civil-service-pension-changes-under-the-remedy-mccloud-3rd-may-tickets-566742250327
If you are interested in attending these online only events, please only pick one date so we can offer participation to as many people as possible.
6. CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONER NEWSLETTER- SPRING 2023
The latest edition of the Pensioner Newsletter from MyCSP featuring the pension increase, and questions around it plus guide to your P60 is at this link: Pensioner Newsletter Spring 2023 – Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Both working/active and Pensioner members now have a digital newsletter available. The online initiative is to save paper and postage. But if members require an emailed or hard copy of the newsletter, then a PDF/paper copy can be obtained by calling 0300 123 6666.
7.CONSULTATION ON THE REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL AND GROUP STRUCTURE
Thank you to all the Groups and individual members who have sent in comments in response to Group Circular 936 on the recommendations of the Working Party reviewing our Group and Regional structure. All the feedback is being collated and will be considered by the Executive Council and Working Party, after which final proposals will be circulated to Groups and Branches later in May.
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 email at lisa.ray@cspa.co.uk or by telephone on 020 8688 8418 (Office).