There will be a meeting of the West Yorkshire Group of the Civil Service Pensioners Alliance at 11.15 AM on Wednesday 25 September2024. (Please note the revised time.) The venue is the PCS Offices in the Merrion Centre, Leeds.

AGENDA

1.   Apologies for absence
2.   Minutes of the last Group Meeting held on 26 June 2024
3. Accuracy
4. Matters arising not covered under agenda headings
5.   Chair’s introductory remarks
6.   Report from the Committee Meeting held on 21 August 2024
7.   National AGM:  West Yorkshire position on motions for debate
8.   Future Guest Speakers
9.   Guest Speaker:  to be confirmed
10.   Any Other Business (to be notified to the Chair prior to the start of the meeting)

The Committee has scheduled the following dates for future Group Meetings:

Wednesday 11 December 2024

Wednesday 19 March 2025 (Group AGM provisional date)

It is our intention that these dates are published in The Pensioner but just in case please store in electronic diaries or keep this paper safe.

We look forward to seeing you at events. Details of guest speakers will be furnished in the agenda papers you will receive in the post in good time for the scheduled meetings. If you have any suggestions for guest speakers, please let me know on 07531 266502 or by Email to relaxpaul@btinternet.com

PAUL LAXTON, CHAIR, CSPA WEST YORKSHIRE GROUP

CSPA West Yorkshire Group

Group Meeting 26 June 2024, PCS Offices, Leeds

Minutes

1. Attendance:

• Attendees: Paul Laxton (chair) and 8 members: Jean Ainsworth, David Parkinson, Alan Swift, Geoffrey Wood, Steve Dodd, Christine Marks, Richard Marks, Danny Clark
• Apologies: Linda Rawson, Margaret Hart, Andy Aitchison (NE regional rep)

2. Group meeting 13 December 2023

• Minutes circulated and approved as accurate, subject to one minor spelling correction

2A. Chair’s introductory remarks

• Paul reported problems with the notice from HQ to members about which he will complain;
• Paul reviewed the notice to members in the light of election; he revised on pensions, national insurance contributions and social care.
• Paul said that he will in future share notices from HQ with committee members when he receives them.
• Andy Aitchison was due to speak to the meeting, but had to cancel for personal reasons.

3. Report from committee meeting 15 May 2024

• Members are encouraged to make voluntary payments to the group to enable it to function. Paul has mentioned this in the newsletter and Alan will contact members with details as the opportunity arises.
• Finance handover under way, but taking longer than expected. Alan is arranging to collect books from Linda, and will then organise transfer of signatories on bank mandate.
• Statement of full financial position will follow the handover. Since the last committee meeting there have been no outgoings and a few voluntary donations received.
• We are continuing to pursue guest speakers for future group meetings (dates on meeting notice), but have not yet confirmed them.

3B. HQ correspondence

• Paul reported that recommendation would be made to the national AGM that in future individuals not attached to a group be allowed access to the AGM. This will be discussed, along with other organisational recommendations in Group Circular 958.
• A minor organisational change is proposed to rationalise postcodes to equalise groups. This would add some areas in North Yorkshire to the area covered by West Yorkshire Group. Paul said this should be ok as it makes geographical sense.

4. Feedback from NE regional meeting 6 June 2024

• Only five groups remain, and some of them are not very active. Fewer than half CSPA members nationally are now represented by a local group
• Dave Luxton (assistant general secretary) spoke about several topics on which we active nationally. These include: a manifesto for pensioners; triple lock for state pension; the possibility of a national care service; accessible homes; digital exclusion; a commissioner for older people; and investment in local transport.
• There is a general election toolkit online which outlines CSPA views
• Tax is a growing issue: the number of pensioners paying tax is rising rapidly, not least because of the freeze in income tax persona allowances. The average civil service pension is £10k (£13k for men, £8k for women) – that’s not what you see in the press.
• Housing is a concern: retirement housing comprises less than 3 per cent of stock; it’s not easy to downsize; heavy service charges feature frequently in leased accommodation and these properties can be hard to sell.
• Capita taking back administration of CS pension scheme – awarded contract from next year.

5. Motions for National AGM 2024

• The meeting discussed the five draft motions circulated with the notice of the meeting and one presented to the meeting on accessibility to concessionary public transport.
  • Energy standing charges: agreed
  • State pension rates old and new: agreed
  • NI contribution cuts and social care: agreed
  • Unfreezing Income Tax allowances: agreed not to proceed, after discussion. We prefer a solution of restoring the age allowance or similar.
  • Parliamentary advisers: Paul explained the background – some of those close to the Labour Party take a strong view that pensioners are under taxed. Agreed to add instruction to EC to collect and promote facts about tax burden on pensions to government.
  • Transport: agreed, subject to clarification and redraft about mention of National Pensioners’ Convention.
• The deadline for submission of motions is 5 July. [All five agreed motions were submitted and accepted for discussion at the AGM.]
• The committee will confirm attendees to represent the group at the AGM at its meeting on 21 August. Paul Laxton and Alan Swift were chosen

6. Any other business

• David raised the question of attendance at the National Pensioners’ Convention in Blackpool on 3 and 4 September – cost is under £20, plus travel.  Approved.

WINTER FUEL SHOCK FOR PENSIONERS

Perhaps the biggest shock subsequent to the General Election is the announcement by the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, that the Winter Fuel Allowance will be restricted to Pensioners claiming Pension Credit from this winter onwards, which at a stroke deprives 10.4 million senior citizens of £200 or £300 depending on age or marital status. Rachel Reeves claims that this will save £1.4 billion. In accounting terms this is within the margin for error of Treasury estimates of outgoings and receipts. It compares very unfavourably with the £13.9 billion that the DWP lost last year to fraud and error. Given that the Winter Fuel Allowance was first introduced by Labour Chancellor Gordon Brown on a non-means tested basis back in 1997, this seems to be a dreadful squandering of political and electoral capital. One would hope that Rachel Reeves will reflect on her decision and withdraw the measure in the budget scheduled for 30 October.

In terms of the hardship inflicted the effect will devastating on those whose incomes fall just the wrong side of the pension credit eligibility line. Even more devastating will be the effect on the estimated 800,000 pensioners who do not claim pension credit out of misplaced pride, inability to cope with the administrative hassle, or because they do not know they are eligible. The amount of unclaimed Pension Credit is £2.1 billion, comfortably more than the Chancellor is looking to recoup. One thing is absolutely clear that if even half of those eligible and not now claiming, went out and claimed the benefit, it would wipe out the Treasury gain, not least because claiming Pension Credit triggers eligibility for other benefits such as Housing Benefit, Free Dental treatment, vouchers for free spectacles, assistance with Council Tax, and cold weather payments. It is also the case that even those claiming now would struggle to have their claims processed by December. It would be much more politically acceptable for the Winter Fuel Allowance to be withdrawn from higher rate taxpayers, although the ‘saving’ would be much lower.

My expectation is that there will be an emergency motion at the AGM in October. I’m confident that all pensioner organizations will be gearing up to fight this change and get Rachel Reeves to change her mind. I know that only a small minority of retired civil servants are eligible for pension credit, but there will be plenty on modest pensions who will keenly feel the loss of £200 or £300, not least because energy bills will rise with the raising of the energy price cap in October. It is predicted to rise again in the New Year.

VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS

The Committee has determined that the voluntary subscription rate should be increased to £10 per annum. It has been £5 since before I joined the Group in 2010. Last year the Group collected only £15 in subscriptions, and unless we can improve dramatically on that, our funds will run out in around three years, and the Group will become insolvent. Our funds are used to pay for the hire of a meeting room, and the expenses associated with having the voice of our Group heard at events such as the annual Pensioners Parliament organised by the NPC, and other campaigning events. We are asking you to donate via your bank.

You can do this online or at your own branch, and if you are feeling really generous, set up an annual standing order. If £10 is too much, feel free to donate whatever you feel is affordable. Please help keep the Group alive.

The bank details are:

Payee    CSPA West Yorkshire Group

Bank    Virgin Money

Address    3, Monk Bridge Street, Meanwood, Leeds, LS6 4HL

Account number 17518291

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