17 January 2012

NPAG  Minutes General Meeting 17^th Jan 2012

Apologies:-  Joyce Bullivant,  Gloria Gibson,  Bob Garlick (no longer able to travel from Huthwaite)

Speakers from OCCUPY in the Old Market Square.

Chairman welcomed Terry and John and invited them to inform the members on the issues that the protest is about.  They saw themselves as a ‘beacon’ against the ‘bankers' fraud’ as they saw it, that was affecting countries all around the world.

Debt had been allowed to grow to unsustainable levels and now the ‘poor’ were being made to carry the burden.  There were OCCUPY sites in cities round the country, as well as across the globe, but it had no real interconnections.

Members could see that OCCUPY was just one part of the protests over the cuts and loss of services the pensioners are having inflicted upon them.  Members gave an enthusiastic reception to the speakers and were thanked.

An AGE UK petition on Care in Crisis was circulated for members to sign.

Nottingham City Council's ‘Vulnerable Adults Plan’ indicates they are moving funding to ‘Personal Budgets’ as a way to save money.  Agreed that we have a speaker on this topic to explain how it will work in practice.

NPC Pensioners Parliament will be held 19-21 June in Blackpool.  No members came forward to be delegates.

Visit to Larkhill Retirement Complex by NPAG agreed, date to be arranged.

Visit to Melton Market and Farm visit arranged for a Tues in April or May.

Request from Nottingham Speakers' Corner Group for a joint public debate on the Future of Care for older people.  Agreed that the Chair and Vice-Chair  arrange to meet them and draw up plans.

A specific donation had been received from UNITE RMA to enable our web site to be made more user friendly and be operated by ourselves.  Links would added to the NPC and TUC Pensioners Network web sites.

Treasurers report.  £527.27 balance.

Auditors.  Neil Williamson and Robin Stalvies were thanked for being willing to undertake the positions.  

Next  Meeting  21^st February.