Report of Retired Members' Secretary

for AGM - 2007

1. There are at any one time about 900 retired members attached to this branch. The Retired Members' Committee, under the chairmanship of Rosemary Lane, currently comprises 15 members and meets 4 times a year. Colin Willett is our Hon. Treasurer and Sue Twyford, our Social Secretary. The Retired Members' Secretary represents the Retired Members Committee on the Branch Executive Committee and also the Branch Finance & General Purposes Committee.
2. We have seen a year of significant lobbying and representational activity.
   1. Representation at the SWTUC Retired Members Conference, the Pensioners Parliament, the Unison Retired Members Conference and Devon Senior Council.
   2. Election of Sue Abraham to the UNISON South West Retired Members Advisory Committee and to the SWTUC Pensioners' Committee.
   3. Motion deploring the ineffectiveness of the current system of regulation of water charges and seeking reference to the Office of Fair Trading was steered successfully through the SWTUC Annual Pensioners' Conference.
   4. Successful motion to the Unison Retired Members Conference opposing continued imposition of charges for an additional TV licence to those of pensionable age who enter a care home for short periods of time or respite care.
   5. Further submissions to the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government Funding. We have been the only Retired Members group in UNISON to have made submissions to the Lyons Inquiry.
   6. Representations to East Devon and Government on the restraints to free bus travel in the East Devon area compared with the rest of Devon.
   7. Support for the campaign by the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters for retention of sub-post offices and continuation of the Post Office Card account, including participation in a lobby of Parliament in October and seeking cross party support of MPs.
   8. Submission to the DVLA in response to a consultation paper on new charges for vehicle registration and renewal of photocard driving licences.
   9. Continued representation on the Pension and Investment Committee on behalf of all beneficiaries.
3. We have had another successful year of social activities.
   1. A full programme of social trips and talks - there are 10 of these organised during the year, including an Annual Lunch held for the first time this year at the Exeter Golf & Country Club.
   2. Providing support as necessary in welfare cases.
   3. Providing informal 'signposting' advice to retired members.
4. We also have undertaken several other activities.
   1. The production and distribution of a bi-monthly newsletter.
   2. The production of an annual directory of members detailing addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, as a means of improving communication between retired members. The directory is also contained within a password protected section of the branch website.
   3. Continued branch support - providing a team for helping the Branch Office with mail outs, in particular Unity and other branch mailings as and when required, and providing input to the pensions' debate.
5. As to the future, we expect another busy year. We shall be submitting a motion to the South West TUC Pensioners Conference on more effective regulation in the energy industry to ensure that retail prices respond more quickly to downward wholesale prices of gas and electricity.
6. We shall be submitting two items for debate at the Pensioners' Parliament, first seeking the extension of the concessionary bus fare scheme as from April 2008 so that there is reciprocity with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and also seeking to ensure that the costs of the scheme will fall on national taxation and not on the Council Taxpayer. The second issue relates to uncontrolled immigration and its possible adverse impact on the delivery of essential services.
7. We have another interesting programme of social events coming up and these are expected to prove very popular.
8. In conclusion, this report demonstrates that the Retired Members Section continues to be active in providing considerable support to its retired members as well as to the branch. We record our thanks to the branch for its continued support to the retired members section and acknowledge the valuable assistance of the staff in the branch office.

Colin Lomax
Retired Members' Secretary