Issues, Election Results, and Matters Arising from the Sheffield & District Group Annual General Meeting held on 20^th March 2025

1. Apologies were received from: Stephen Anderson, Alan Davies, Owen Fernandez, Chris Harding, Martin Hodgson, Les Priestley, David Sykes Alan Thomas, and Marianne Young,

Many thanks for letting us know you couldn’t join us. We are looking to see if there’s more we can do to keep in better touch with people who can’t make our Thursday meetings. Please let us know if you ha any preferences.

• National Update by Chair, Mike Buckley

Mike set the scene for the meeting with an update on CSPA national priorities and activities:

As things stand, many CS Pensioners in common with other pensioners, face the impact of the loss of the inter Heating Allowance, concerns about the triple lock and the fiscal drag created by frozen tax thresholds,

As we demanded in our motion to the National AGM, the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary are in regular discussion with the Cabinet office to press for the best possible delivery of our pensions, quick access to information and the fastest possible resolution of any issues, now Capita is returning as CSP service provider.

Along with Later Life Ambitions (LLA) partners, and others, we are campaigning to address key issues for many pensioners, including Digital Exclusion, Pensions for Life, Social Care.

The significant reduction in membership exposed by the post-COVID database review, means CSPA needs to be more cost-effective in delivering our services to members. Our website is now markedly improved. HQ is now seeking to maximise email as the default method of communication, whilst ensuring there is no digital exclusion.

Alongside all of this we need to raise CSPA’s profile where can, nationally, regionally and locally.

• All-Member Ballots for National elections

We were asked to comment on NEC proposals to introduce all-member ballots for national elections. This needed to be received by the General Secretary’s Office by 21^st March.

After a full discussion, the response proposed by the Group Committee (included below in Annex 1) was unanimously agreed and sent to HQ following the conclusion of our meeting on the 20^th.

• Group Election Results

The following unchallenged nominations were endorsed by members:

Chair: Mike Buckley
Secretary: John Houghton
Treasurer: Linda Garner
Membership Secretary: Linda Woollen

Committee Members:

Andy Aitchison,
Stephen Anderson,
Les Priestley,
Judith Roe,
Beryl Wardley.

Auditors (2): Brenda Pinhorn, Judith Roe

• Adoption of Accounts

           The 2024 Audited Accounts, presented by Treasurer, Linda Garner, were unanimously adopted by members present at the AGM.

• Regional/Group Updates

Andy Aitchison, North East Regional Representative, updated us on Group activity in our Region. The next Regional Meeting will take place in Darlington on 12^th June. The key issue affecting our Group is the potential outreach to provide services for members in Lincolnshire, which is part of North East Region. Andy and Chair Mike Buckley are discussing with national colleagues to agree how this should be progressed. The Committee will update you on this issue as soon as we can

• Guest Speakers/Activities

Members were asked for any Guest Speaker ideas or preferences and potential social events.

Guest Speaker suggestions:

Local Transport, Social Care, Age UK, University of the 3^rd Age.

Social Event idea:

Tenpin Bowling

• Please let us know if you have any good ideas.

John Houghton,

Group Secretary

ANNEX 1

Sheffield and District Group Response to CSPA NEC

All-Member Ballot Proposals for discussion at the AGM

Whilst, on the surface, an all-member ballot looks to be a good democratic proposal, we have serious concerns about its potential impact on CSPA as an active, inclusive organisation beyond the central leadership. These are:

The past strength of CSPA was based on the informed democracy that comes from active Group involvement, providing an informed knowledge based approach to selecting and electing candidates.

We’re well aware that, over the past few years more members don’t have access to Groups to participate actively in CSPA . However, we don’t believe the proposed change to balloting as described will be a solution to this issue. We believe it is unlikely to better involve members or promote informed access and activity.

•We believe it will be a detriment to the role of active Groups and Branches, potentially leaving more members uninformed and further distanced from National Leadership.

We also have concerns about the potential expense of this exercise and urge the NEC to set in place a robust process to measure additional costs against any impact, positive or negative, on ember/Group/Branch inclusion and activity. and report back findings by the 2027 AGM.

We would also want to receive a reassurance that membership data is up to date, and would not leave election results open to challenge.

• Having said this, we concede that it is difficult to argue against an all-member ballot proposal once it is announced. So if, as we have been assured, the trial is affordable and its review will take into account all our concerns, we are minded to support a limited trial with a meaningful and effective review process.

• We await, with interest, NEC proposals to be put to the AGM this year Our further decisions on how to respond, once these are available, will depend on members’ views on the best way to protect our Group and secure a positive future for CSPA.

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