Pension campaigning
Annual General Meeting
We hold an AGM each October to decide our policy direction for the forthcoming year.
2025 National AGM
The 2025 National CSPA AGM took place in Kenilworth in October. It was another successful one for CSPA NI. Our Treasurer Roisin Lilley was re-elected as CSPA National Vice Chair and the Branches three Motions , on Pensions , the Income Tax Threshold & TV Licences were all well-argued by Branch Chair , Harry Baird.
2025 AGM
The CSPA AGM 2025 took place on 7th May in the Presbyterian Assembly Building Belfast. There was a reasonable turnout of Members. As well as the usual reports from the Branch President , Branch Chair , Branch Secretary , Branch Treasurer & Branch Membership Secretary there were also two excellent addresses from the two Keynote Speakers. CSPA National Chair , Les Priestly and the newly appointed Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey.
In his address Les said he could understand why some Members had lost hope of things improving. We were living in difficult times. But he still had hope that things would get better. He said Devolution was an asset to the Branch as they could actively lobby decision makers. He highlighted that one of CSPA’s most important Campaigns was to get Government to lift the Income Tax Thresholds which had been in place for years.
In her address Siobhan Casey set out her priorities for the role of Older Person’s Commissioner. This included Health , Environment , Social Care , Public Transport , Housing and Public Toilets accessible for Older People. She explained how she wanted to work with the diverse range of Organisations speaking for Older People. She highlighted that she was looking forward to working with CSPA NI whose AGM was one of her first engagements since being appointed.
2024 AGM
Following the success of the 2023 Belfast City Hall event the 2024 AGM moved to The Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont on 24th April.
Around 40 members attended, as well as the various Branch Reports from Branch President Alastair Hunter, Branch Chair Stan Blayney , Branch Secretary Tony McMullan and Branch Treasurer and Membership Secretary Roisin Lilley there were two excellent Keynote Speakers.
Sally Tsoukaris , CSPA General Secretary dealt with the implications to Older People of the April Budget , the essential need for the Pensions Triple Lock, the role of the Pensioner Magazine, the likely impacts of the McCloud Judgement and Gender Diversity.
The other Keynote Speaker was Viki Oliveira from the Charity for Civil Servants. She gave a comprehensive outline of the role and remit of the Charity, which she said was approached for help every two seconds. As an indication of the support for the Charity a cheque for £3,000 was donated from CSPA NI to the CfCS to assist its’s invaluable work.
2023 AGM
The 2023 AGM was the 70th Anniversary of a Civil Service Pensioners Organisation in Northern Ireland. To celebrate the event the AGM was held in the Banqueting Room of Belfast City Hall on April 18th. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Tina Black welcomed more than 75 people to meeting , the largest attendance for many years. She praised the CSPA for promoting & protecting the interests of Retired Civil Servants. David Luxton, CSPA Deputy General Secretary was one of the two keynote Guest Speakers.
He applauded the Branch’s work on the Pension triple Lock & reminded the meeting that the average Civil Service Pension was only £10,000 Pa. He congratulated the CSPA NI on reaching 70 !! The other Guest Speakers was Stuart Pollard from U3A ( University of the Third Age ). He pointed out that U3A had been set up to encourage those no longer in full time employment to come together and continue learning.
The meeting also heard Branch Reports from Branch President Alastair Hunter , Branch Chair Ivan Baxter , Branch Secretary Tony McMullan & Branch Treasurer & Membership Secretary Roisin Lilley.
2022 AGM
The 2022 AGM took place on Thursday 20th November in the Europa Hotel , Belfast. The AGM which usually took place every May had been out back to November as the Country was still coming out of the period of the Covid Pandemic & many people , particularly Older People were still cautious about meeting in larger numbers. This was the first physical AGM since 2019. There was a smaller attendance than usual but that was expected. We were delighted to welcome two Guest Speakers to the meeting , CSPA General Secretary Lisa Ray & the Commissioner for Older People NI , Eddie Lynch.
Lisa Ray said she was delighted to be in her first ever visit to Northern Ireland. She pointed out that Nationally CSPA were set up in 1952 to establish a link between Pensions & inflation & were celebrating their 70th Anniversary.
She stressed how much Older People had endured during the Pandemic & hoped for better days ahead. Lisa also thanked CSPA NI both for their campaigning & financial support to the National Organisation.
Eddie Lynch welcomed the chance to meet up physically again. He outlined the main areas he was working on, the Cost of Living crisis , Warm Home Discount Scheme , Age Discrimination Legislation , the Pension Triple Lock , Health & Social Care , Reform of Adult Social Care , Hospital Waiting Lists , Public Toilet provision , Scams & the need for Dialysis Machines. He also engaged with a lively Question & Answer session with members.
Ivan Baxter who was doubling up as Branch President & Secretary stood down from the Secretary position & had been replaced by the Branch Committee by Tony McMullan. This was endorsed by the AGM.
