THIS IS THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE WEST MIDLAND PENSIONERS CONVENTION
IN THIS ISSUE
Contact Information
Shock News on
Sheltered Housing
Pensioners Manifesto
A View of The NPC
Biennial Delegate Conference
News From The Branches
WHATS ON
Objectives of the NPC
ABOUT US OUR ORGANISATION
The West Midlands We have local and Trade Pensioners Convention is the Union Branches across our Regional Organisation of the Region. Each Branch is National Pensioners entitled to send delegates to Convention. the Regional Council which meets on the second
Our main objective is to Thursday of each month,
promote the welfare and at the offices of Birmingham
interests of pensioners, both UNISON, 19th Floor,
now and in the future; Maclaren Building from 11a.m.
securing dignity, respect and
financial security for all in We also welcome
retirement. applications for membership
We have a number of very from non-party political
active committees, including a organisations of pensioners
Transport Group which holds and retired people from
regular quarterly meetings across our Region.
with Transport for The Pensioners can also become
Midlands (formerly CENTRO). individual members.
FOR MORE INFORMATION LOCAL BRANCHES
About our local branches, Trade Walsall: Andrea Stanton :01922448331
Union Retired members Wolverhampton: [email protected]
sections and affiliated Halesowen :Tony Whitehouse:07715314608
organisations CONTACT: Stourbridge: Bob Mitchell: 07984547713
Membership Secretary, Trevor Coventry : Audrey Ross : 02477679055
Eames on 0121 733 8081 or : North Staffs: Owen Sloss : 07582115742
email Birmingham
[email protected] Kingstanding : Ken Smith: 0121 624 6981
East Birmingham: Stan Simpson:0121 7830734 B’ham/South Central: Yvonne Washbourne :
For General enquiries about the 07814529626
West Midlands Pensioners Northfield: Mike Whiting:0121 477 5324
Convention: Solihull: Syd Ashby: 0121 705 644 Call:
0784547713 Sutton Coldfield: Phil Larkin 0121 353 9180
email: [email protected] Sandwell: Tony Carlson:07527127321
SHOCK NEWS FOR PENSIONERS WHO LIVE IN SHELTERED HOUSING
In TWO YEARS TIME, April 1st 2019.government intends to cap the Housing Benefit for
pensioners living in sheltered housing schemes down to the Local Allowance LHA for their
locality. Single pensioners and couples will only get the bedroom rate. It is a cap on Housing
Benefit for people in sheltered housing and a bedroom tax. The current LHA for a self-
contained 1 Bedroom flat in Birmingham is £98.87 a week.
This means that tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit will be left with a shortfall- their Housing
Benefit entitlement will no longer cover the full costs of their homes. Rent arrears will be
inevitable.
Government proposes to give local authorities ring fenced money so they can cover any
shortfalls. How strong and lengthy the ring fence will be is a matter of concern. Experience is
that the financial pressures on councils may mean that funding meant for sheltered housing
may be diverted to pay for other services. There is no mention about extra money for local
authorities to deal with the administration of the top up funding. This may be another post
code lottery.
It is known that the National Pensioners Convention has started to raise this issue within the
NPC and with MPs. This is good but may not be enough. The fear is that many pensioners may
face the prospect of becoming homeless as sheltered schemes are closed due to the rent
losses that their landlords can’t manage. Government must recognise how foolish their
intentions are. Do local authorities and the NHS have the capacity to cope with the homeless
pensioners?
ALL TENANTS AFFECTED NEED TO WRITE TO THEIR MPs, THEIR LOCAL TV AND RADIO STATIONS, NEWSPAPERS
AND ORGANISE AND ATTEND PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS
Many thanks to Cyril Bezant for this article.
MAYORAL- PENSIONERS MANIFESTO
ON THURSDAY MAY 4TH WE WILL DECIDE WHO WILL BE THE FIRST
MAYOR OF THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY
THE PLEDGES WE WANT ON BEHALF OF PENSIONERS
• HOUSING
Improve the delivery of new housing stock across the West Midlands including
adequate provision to meet the needs of affordable homes for an aging
population. Encourage policies to address the problems of those living in
substandard housing which is leading to high levels of excess Winter deaths.
• INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT
A meaningful involvement strategy within the first year in office to engage
older people in planning an Age Friendly environment in the towns and cities
of the West Midlands to include; transport, street furniture, housing and health
using the World Health Organisation “Guide to Global Age Friendly Cities” as a
touchstone.
• TRANSPORT
A pledge to retain existing concessionary travel in the West Midlands; Rail,
Metro and children’s 50% discount, plus ongoing support for Ring and Ride. A
commitment to develop the present bus alliance partnership.
• SOCIAL CARE
The Social Care system is in crisis in the West Midlands across all seven
constituent local authorities that make up the West Midlands Combined
Authority. Private sector providers of Social Care are closing care homes and
handing back social care contracts to local authorities. We need a regional
Mayor committed to a policy of in house public sector provision of social care
across the WMCA region.
All the candidates for the office of West Midlands’ Mayor will be contacted for
their response to our manifesto.
A VIEW OF THE NPC – BIENNUAL DELEGATE MEETING
Dorothy Lamb - WMPC/Delegate
As a first-time delegate to the National Pensioners Convention Biennial Delegate Conference
this is a brief resume of the participation of the WMPC.
We moved Policy Motion 4: The Peoples Assembly on behalf of our Region and Amendments
to Constitutional Motion2: Membership of the NPC, Policy Motion 1: Effects of Brexit on
Pensions, Policy Motion 3: Older Peoples Commission and Policy Motion 6: NPC Organisation.
In all there were 14 Constitutional Motions and Amendments and 20 Policy Motions and
Amendments.
The Constitutional Motions were dealt with first on Tuesday afternoon, Motion1 was in favour
of changing the name of the NPC to National Pensioners Campaign. After all the debate the
motion was lost. Motion2 was about membership of the NPC-there were 4 Amendments. This
motion is too long to list but basically it was proposing a minimum membership of 5,000
subject to acceptance by the National Council. It proved to be a controversial topic. After the
debate the Motion was carried with a two thirds majority.
Policy Motion 4 The Peoples Assembly was proposed by our Region and seconded by the
PCS.The Motion was carried by 54 votes for 34 Against with 7 Abstentions. This was sweet
success for the WMPC. Two years ago, a similar Motion was lost in what was considered by
our Delegates to be a controversial voting procedure. The BDC Policy Motion 6 and
Amendments about the future of NPC Structure and Pensioners Parliament, including the
WMPC Amendment, was withdrawn on a technicality; the original proposer of Motion 6
refusing to formally move the Motion from the floor of Conference. National Officers were
elected: Chair: Ron Douglas, General Secretary: Jan Shortt, Deputy General Secretary: Dot
Gibson, Vice Chair: Norman Jemison, Ellen Lebethe, Peter Rayner, Marion Wilson.
Brian Allbutt - WMPC / Delegate
Was this a “Watershed” Conference for the National Pensioners Convention, who know’s,
it’s a much bantered about phrase. I think, or rather I hope, that there was a generally
accepted concern among delegates, and those of us active in the Pensioners Convention, that
as the UK ‘s premier Pensioner Organisation we face some tough challenges. Not least of
these being financial, but there are also other challenges including the intergenerational
challenge. Many of our stalwart members were with the NPC at its launch alongside Jack
Jones and Rodney Bickerstaff; and we owe them all a huge debt of gratitude. But there is now
a new generation of retirees getting involved in the Pensioners Convention, the so-called
“Baby-Boomers” and there is far more diversity among our older generation than even
twenty years ago. It as to be said that that diversity was not reflected in the demographics of
those attending the B.D.C.- that is a challenge for us going forward.
A SUCCESS STORY
Sandwell Branch Pensioners Convention
The newly formed Sandwell branch of the
Pensioners’ Convention meets at 11a.m. on the
first Tuesday of the month at West Bromwich
Central Library.
At the February meeting the speaker was Cllr Richard Worrall who works on the
National Pensioners’ Convention Transport Group. He talked to the members
about the issues surrounding public transport in the West Midlands.
An issue of importance is the election of the new West Midlands Mayor who will
oversee public transport in the region. At present the seven local authority leaders
head up Transport for West Midlands (formerly CENTRO), after the election of the
new mayor the board of TfWM will work with the mayor to decide policy for
transport.
Cllr Worrall also outlined some of the implications of the new Bus Bill that is
currently working its way through Parliament.
The All England Bus Pass reaches its 10th anniversary in 2018.To mark this
Cllr Worrall is planning to make another round Britain tour starting in April 2018
using his bus pass. This is currently in the planning stage and full details will be
shared later this year.
New members are very welcome to join this fledgling branch of the West Midlands
Pensioners Convention.
Please contact: Tony Carlson: Chair Sandwell Pensioners Convention.
105 Heronville Road, Hill Top, West Bromwich B70 0JE
or come along to our regular monthly meeting.
WHAT’S ON
THE REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETING
THURSDAY 11TH
MAY
Main Speaker
Richard Worrall
Walsall Councillor, Lead Activist in
the hugely successful “Love Your Bus
Pass” Campaign, member of the
National Pensioners Convention
Transport Working Party.
Epitaph to a Quite Man
Barry Cole
Wolverhampton Branch member Barry Cole
died 1st February 2017,aged 85.
Barry was a quiet,unassuming and
exceedingly polite pensioner who regularly
attended the Branches monthly meetings.
His funeral was a revelation,even for friends
who had known him for many years!
The British legion standard bearers were
present,and the ‘Last Post’ sounded,for a
well-educated gentleman who served in the
Canadian Air Force as a Navigator!
We also learned that in his younger days he
had journeyed around Europe,America and
Canada. Barry was a chartered engineer and
his specialist interest was the role of
engineering in the Allies’ success on D-Day.
Indeed,he had lectured on the subject to
many relevant societies in the country.
Sadly,Barry’s family background and his
Wolverhampton activities did not meet…..
until his funeral. RIP
WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY
Friday 28th April is International Workers
Memorial Day. On this day working
people, our families and Trade Unions
remember all those who lost their lives at
work or as a consequence of their work.
And to promote good health and safety
for all those in work today.
EVENTS IN OUR REGION
Birmingham: Assembly 12.30 p.m.
St. Phillips Cathedral, Colmore Row
Speakers Invited
Solihull: 12.30 p.m. Brueton Gardens
(opposite the Barley Mow Pub)
Speakers to include the Mayor of Solihull
Wolverhampton : 12.30 p.m. Cenotaph
St. Peters Square.
BIRMINGHAM SOUTH/CENTRAL BRANCH
PENSIONERS CONVENTION
COFFEE MORNING
11.00 A.M TILL 1.00 P.M.
Thursday May 4th
ALL SAINTS CHURCH CENTRE
2 VICARAGE ROAD, KINGS HEATH
For More Information Contact :
Brian Allbutt on: 07942264482
IF YOU ARE A RETIRED MEMBER OF THE
COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION, YOU ARE
INVITED TO ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING OF
CWU MIDLAND NO.1 RETIRED MEMBERS
SECTION. Thursday May 4th, Britannia
Hotel, New Street, Birmingham - 12.00
Noon.
OBJECTIVES OF THE NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION
To promote the welfare and interests of all United Kingdom pensioners and
older people in need, by any means deemed by law to be charitable. In
pursuance of this object the NPC will:
a. Promote policies beneficial to pensioners, retired and older people.
b. Encourage the development of educational and other opportunities to enable pensioners, retired and older people to contribute to community activities.
c. Act as an information resource for pensioners’, retired and older people’s organisations within the United Kingdom.
d. Provide a platform where matters of concern can be raised and policies and practices developed, paying attention to the particular needs or problems of pensioners, retired and older people.
e. Make representations to the Government, Members of Parliament, Members of the European Parliament, Health Authorities, Local Authorities and other statutory and voluntary bodies dealing with matters affecting pensioners, retired and older people.
f. Act at all times without discrimination on grounds of age, gender, race, belief, disability or sexual orientation.
