At our second conference in 2005, The Right to a Fair Deal, delegations from 26 of the English shire counties continued the discussion. This conference reinforced the findings of the previous year. All senior citizens get a poor deal, and have been let down by successive national governments. However, in vast tracts of rural England deprivation is in fact worse than in the inner cities simply because it is much harder to deal with. The cost of delivering services to a sparse population over a wide geographical area is far greater than for a similar sized but more concentrated population. Though central government concedes that this is so, it refuses to adjust the grant funding formula to reflect the reality. Is it really so unpatriotic and cynical of us to believe that governments put potential for votes ahead of the genuine needs of the population as a whole? We think not, conference 2005 thought not, and for that reason it was agreed to press forward towards the formation of our Shire Counties Federation.

The older population of rural England, though dispersed and often isolated, is collectively a large section of the UK electorate. If we can find a practical means to orchestrate the rural voice, we can add significantly to the general campaign fought by such organizations as the National Pensioners Convention, whilst being able to concentrate political perception on the special and specific needs of the rural pensioner.

At the same time all of the delegates at The Right to a Fair Deal realized that in the current climate, the bill for the consequences of national neglect has to be picked up, in the main, by local authorities. We in Shropshire recognized this at a very early stage in our development, and set out to build a grass roots organization (and a body of knowledge) that would enable us to engage effectively with the local authority in those many areas of local administration that have real effect on the quality of life of our members. To be able to do this properly it is necessary to try to build up a fair understanding of local government, how it works and who is responsible for what. Quite often the righting of a minor annoyance, such as the lack of bus shelter, can improve quality of life for a large number of people at a very low cost. The key to getting this done is by knowing which authority, at which level, is responsible for the omission in the first instance. And so on up the scale and through the tiers. There can though, be no doubt that the major influence on quality of life is exerted by the top tier of existing local government, that is, the County Council. For this reason we consider it essential that forums must seek some way, and it will obviously vary from county to county, to come together within their county area to form an effective ‘county’ voice. For this reason too, part of our plan for Together we Stand was to use some of the conference time to bring local government and forums together to discuss the principles and realities of meaningful engagement.

This then was the background to our third conference. Whether some, any or all of the aims were met is still to be judged. It was, however, gratifying to welcome so many of you; some old friends from previous conferences, some new faces; to Shropshire, and to share a stimulating exchange of views and collation of collective experience.

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Once again Forum attendance was excellent. Invitations were sent to forum organizations in 31 counties. Delegates attended from 27 (including Shropshire). Two delegations had to withdraw at the last minute and two organizations did not respond to their invitations. There are three counties (including our next door neighbour Herefordshire) who appear not to have any forums. Once again we offer grateful thanks to all who did make the effort to come, and once again we can only take encouragement from the vigour and dedication of older people prepared to travel to the midlands from the length and breadth of England (and from Scotland) in support of the cause.

Age Concern and Help the Aged were represented as usual, and we were pleased to welcome a delegate from Better Government for Older People (BGOP). This time we were delighted to have two forum participants from outside the English Shires as well, in the shape of representatives from Newcastle upon Tyne forum and from Scotland. As we have publicly stated on several occasions, we would dearly like to see forum federations in the English Metropolitan Counties, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well. Perhaps these were first tentative steps.

We invited several government ministers to come and address the assembled peasants, but all pleaded prior engagements. The list included the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, who was most gracious in his refusal and wished us every success. Ruth Kelly and Phil Woolas also turned down the chance to appear. David Cameron also declined, but we were delighted that our Shrewsbury MP, Daniel Kawczynski, was able to drop in and listen to one of the debates. I can report that he was hugely impressed by the quality and passion of the proceedings. As we had only intended to have one speaker at this years conference anyway, the lack of a minister did not detract too much from the quality of the conference.

As the timetable for the 2005 conference was adjudged a great success, this years conference was designed in a similar way, with an early start on day one and a half day programme on day 2 for the Forum delegates. In an attempt to boost local government participation, a separate one day event was devised for local government delegates, which interlocked at appropriate places with the second day of the main conference. It was believed that a one day commitment would make it more likely that appropriate officers could be released from other duties to attend the conference. In the event Local Government participation again fell short of expectations, and this time only six authorities outside Shropshire agreed to send delegates. Because of the low numbers, the local authority part of the programme was modified. Participation in the joint sections of the programme went ahead as planned, and feed back indicates that those local government officers who did attend enjoyed this interface with their forums. A single local government workshop then enjoyed intensive discussions on the meaning and practicalities of engagement.

2006 saw publication of the White Paper on Local Government, which was presented to Parliament in October 2006. This is a huge document (171 pages in volume 1) with 7 Annexes (59 pages in volume 2) and a separate 6 page summary of the whole. Along with the White Paper central government issued an Invitation to Councils in England to make proposals for future unitary structures or to pioneer, as pathfinders, new two tier models. Study of these documents made it apparent to us that the changes to local government proposed therein could have a marked effect on the way that local forums need to organize and operate if the proposed changes are made. We therefore asked Carolyn Downs, the Chief Executive of Shropshire County Council, if she would give a presentation to conference explaining the proposals and how individual authorities could respond. The resulting presentation was much appreciated by all delegates, and we would like to thank Carolyn for the quality of the presentation and her frank and open answers to the many questions asked.

The commitment and level of participation shown by all delegates was impressive, which resulted in lively and open debate throughout. Most of the activity took place in the debating chamber, with just a single workshop session when delegates split into area groups to identify and discuss perceived problems that will need to be overcome if the federation is to develop into an effective enterprise. Specific activities and outcomes are reported in the relevant sub sections of this document.

Once again the conference dinner was a successful social and networking event, though the direction and purpose of the speech by Malcolm Pate, leader of Shropshire County Council; charting the progress and development of local government through the ages; did not become fully apparent to most delegates until after the presentation on the Local Government White Paper by Carolyn Downs on day 2. We would like to thank Malcolm for being an excellent host again this year. We would also like to thank Jack Collier, the SCC Director of Community Services, who also joined us and gave an excellent speech. Perhaps the biggest thank you of all should go to Claire Brown, the Column Restaurant Catering Manager and her staff, who once again provided good food, good wine and the necessary ambience to allow us all an enjoyable evening.

A study of the replies to the conference critique (Section 3) indicates that the conference was adjudged successful by the people who matter, the delegates. It is apparent that everyone realizes that there is a great deal of work to be done to establish the federation as a major player in the quest for a fair deal for pensioners, but it is also obvious that the will to do it is there. Many delegates do point out that there is still a good deal of work to be done around the counties in forming effective county organizations. The encouraging aspect is that this process does seem to be happening in more and more counties since the first Shires conference took place in 2004. This will, of course, become a matter of primary importance when the proposals in the Local Government White Paper come into effect and County Unitaries become the norm.

The desire for better communication links and the provision of a Shire Counties directory has been addressed, and the basic directory appears at Appendix 1 to this report. Additions and amendments will be issued as they occur. As agreed at the conference, the Shropshire Association office will continue to work as the federation focal point during the steering committee phase, and will accept the minor funding burden implicit in this arrangement. The offer to provide a permanent office for the federation in Shrewsbury remains on the table, and indeed the Association has taken the first steps in securing improved office accommodation to enable this to become a practical proposition.

Finally, we would like once again to thank all the delegates who took the time and trouble to attend the conference, and to acknowledge their enthusiastic participation. Any conference anywhere can only be a success if the delegates make it so, no matter how well organized it might or might not be. We look forward to seeing you all again at Conference 2007.

Conference met expectations 33% 55% 10% 2%

Presentations were clear and concise 25% 45% 20% 10%

Refreshment was good and adequate 50% 40% 4% 4% 2%

The venue was suitable 75% 20% 3% 2%

Conference was well organized 70% 25% 5%

"The ability to interact and network with other forums and the airing of common views"

"Meeting people from all over the country and hearing their views and ways of working"

"Workshops"

"Very good company"

"Networking – getting good ideas and encouragement"

"The presentation at the dinner and the SCC Chief executive’s presentation"

"Well organized"

"Accommodation superb"

"The whole package – good debate"

"Learning more about the White Paper on Local Government"

"Learning how committed and energetic old people are"

"Differences between rural/urban areas were identified as were similar ambitions all of which require action"

"That there were nominations from different areas for the Federation Steering Committee"

"Participation from all delegates

"Keeping to the programme, the excellent dinner and chances to network, and illumination re the Local Government White Paper"

" No list showing where delegates came from. A contact list, even in draft form, would be very helpful"

"Not enough people from the Eastern area turned up"

"Too long a time at meals – food for anyone with dietary problems"

"No time allocated to allow us to explore Shrewsbury"

"Amendments confusing – too long winded. The walk to the bus – waiting 2 hours for bus to station"

"Lack of suitable food for vegetarians, wheat allergies, etc"

"Too much time on dealing with the constitution"

"That there were not more nominations to the steering committee when it was known in advance (to the majority) that it was the intention to launch the federation"

"The absence of adequate finance to support the ambitions of those prepared to be involved"

" The questioning (I was unaware of previously) of OP’s organizations in terms of autonomy/democracy and their future relationship to any federation formed"

"When too many people were holding conversations about the proceedings while the speaker was trying to make himself/herself heard"

"Could have done with better seating arrangements for taking lunch etc."

"Lunch too long, time saved could have allowed earlier ending"

"Lack of common sense when asking questions plus the audience not respecting the speaker by having conversations amongst themselves"

"Having to wait until 8.30pm for the evening meal"

"Acoustics in the main chamber of the Shirehall"

"Very difficult to hear in the council chamber. Proposed amendments to the constitution should have been circulated prior to the conference"

"Sound not as good as previous year"

"Finding a councillor attending as a forum representative"

"The need to develop a country wide structure"

"Find out more about our regional OPAG. Study how you have established contact with your county council"

"Surely the idea of a federation is for all counties to work together. The whole concept is a good idea and needed but I feel will be difficult to manage"

"Nearly all of them"

"Recruitment methods. Need for more members and more generous funding"

"My forum would have to decide after I have reported back to them. Also I would have to speak to another forum not represented here today"

"Have heard good ideas for arrangements of local forums which I will take back to my core group"

"Given me much to consider and take back to my forum"

"We need to wait and see regarding set up and enrollment of members"

"Considerably more thought and discussion is essential before projects are identified for early action together with a recruitment campaign for an effective volunteer work force"

"Details of networking"

"Yes. Start small with committed steering committee and keep communications going"

"Joint meetings and decision making"

"Ideas for attracting new members"

"I have many more ideas and feel gratified that my ideas up to now are shared elsewhere. Feel more encouraged to go on in the teeth of indifference"

"We need to form a county organization first"

"Will be excellent when it is up and running"

"Somerset has declared its Unitary intentions in the last week, so meeting to form a County Association appears essential. A (brief) checklist of guidance on running meetings to trawl for new members might be useful"

"Lots of work for the steering committee"

"To start with a small federation and increase gradually"

"This will be taken to our next committee meeting so we can nominate a representative"

"Press coverage of the launching of a federation if possible. Each area will have to work on this, though some forums are less ready than others. When can we go public?"

"Allow delegates to consult with their forum members"

"Bring into line all outsiders"

"Continued communications"

"Communication lines one with another. Maximum publicity"

"Utilisation of networking and circulation of information"

" Develop the proposed data base to include all known forums and extend it as widely as possible. Regular progress reports to all"

"Regular contact between members of each area"

"Steering group decide on the way forward and initiate communications between existing groups/ members and stimulate recruitment and group formation"

"We definitely should have formed the nucleus of a federation"

"Keep us all informed"

"Formation of an effective steering committee to clarify the aims, objectives, funding and organizational arrangements"

" A positive lead from all active counties"

" A directory of all organizations concerned with the welfare of older people –closer cooperation with other similar local groups"

"Delegates should go back to their group and report on suggested federation"

"Formation of federation as discussed. Small to begin with then grow"

"Formation of a steering group and definition and level of development of independent forums"

" How about a website where we can place our ‘eavesdroppings’ about actions of govt. and other bodies plus an internet newsletter"

"I am very impressed by the relationship you have established with Shropshire County Council. At least some taxes are coming back to this sector. A national standard at this level would be a good achievement and a good starting point"

" Very difficult for delegates representing groups in other parts of the country to cope with the traveling to enable them to play an active part to enable the federation to be useful to them"

"Not until the conference report is read by my committee"

"Lord Hill annexe baths need grab rails – there is a risk of falling or slipping in them"

"A big worry on funding – present and future"

"Congratulations to the Shropshire committee for the excellent organization of the conference"

"Numbers count, especially with the potential to translate into votes"

"Who will print the contact directory and will it be distributed to everyone present?"

"The organization of the conference should be applauded. Excellent"

In the early days of the District Forums and Association here in Shropshire we decided that we should have a mission statement and defined aims. This is normal for many organizations but required careful thought to ensure that the serious importance is understood. The mission is the goal and the aims must be constantly referred to in order to achieve that goal. On the screen you see our mission and aims, they are:

At local level the all important grass root membership has addressed the aims and achieved some important initial success. The following is a brief selection of examples.

At County level the Association has also had success in its aim to take up issues generated by the District Forums or on matters felt by the Association to be of importance to all older people throughout the county. Again I will give some examples

The question is, are these examples of local and county involvement achieving our aims on the way to securing our goal? The answer has to be yes and no. We have achieved some successes but they remain comparatively small in relation to the overall picture. We have to keep the overall picture firmly in mind and acknowledge that we have to be prepared to play a long game to achieve the bigger impact so important in getting closer to the goal we have set. Make no mistake about it; we senior citizens though now making up 20% of the population and 35% of the electorate are still a long way from achieving the recognition that we are entitled to. On many issues that affect us, directly or indirectly, only lip service is paid to our demands, usually in the form of tick box surveys. There is not even a Minister for Older People at a time when most other minority groups seem to have a ministerial voice in government.

Let us look at some of the issues that affect all of us in the Shire counties:

I believe that these three issues alone clearly illustrate the fact that on the one hand we are told that our engagement is vital and that we are being listened to – but when we get down to brass tacks – as we say in Yorkshire – many important matters relative to the needs of older people are firmly at the bottom of the list of government priorities.

No doubt you are all wondering why I have not yet mentioned pensions. Of course this is the biggest issue for all senior citizens. 2012 (or thereabouts) is a long time ahead and I gladly join the multitude who believe it a disgrace that government is saying that they must put off improvements until then, but only if they can afford it. The familiar old story doesn’t change. 2012 will be too late for about 3 million of us, and in the meantime those of us who do last the course will have to continue looking forward to the paltry annual increase as it is, the winter fuel allowance which has also failed to rise in line with the massive hikes in fuel costs, and the occasional pre-election hand out towards the rising cost of Council Tax. We must never forget that currently there are over 2 million pensioners living below the official poverty line, on meagre fixed incomes that will never lift them out of absolute poverty. Even worse, with spiralling basic costs that number will inevitably increase over the next six years.

By way of a postscript to a litany of subjects where government is talking positively and acting negatively it must be remembered that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence periodically denies the availability of drugs that can help senior citizens in particular, drugs for Alzheimer and Parkinson sufferers for example. Economic viability is often cited as the reason for denial. It could not be concerned with ensuring that the older population is at a more acceptable level around 2012 to make pension increases more affordable, could it?

So where does all this leave us on that long and winding road towards achieving our goal.

Failure to form a concerted Shire Counties voice is not an option, as this can only result in the ‘quality of life’ gap between rural and metropolitan areas increasing. The move to a federation can, I believe, only strengthen our determination to achieve the aims and mission goal. It will not happen tomorrow, nor easily, but it will happen if we remain dedicated to the principal of ‘no talk about us without us".

Finally, let me just read you extracts from some newspaper clips.

These extracts are from the August 1960 edition of the OLD AGE PENSIONER* DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR THE AGED*, the official publication of the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations – not much seems to have changed in the past 46 years. If you all agree then this is all the more reason for forming our federation and trying to change things once and for all.

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A proposed constitution was issued to delegates prior to their attendance at conference with a request for suggested written amendments to be debated in the conference chamber. Due to time pressures it was not possible to circulate the proposed amendments until delegates arrived at conference. The debate was a lively affair, and the proposed constitution was examined clause by clause. An agreed constitution was arrived at, but with some required additions that were suggested but not debated as time ran out. The suggested additions are included in the constitution in italics.

Principal objectives shall be to:

b) Provide a platform where matters of concern to older people can be raised and the

relevant policies developed.

END

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Cumbria, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire

Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Warwickshire

Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk

Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex

Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, North Somerset, Somerset, Wiltshire

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Councils can submit unitary proposals, but they must:

- Members Allowances ₤ 600,000

- Elections ₤ 80,000

- Information Technology ₤ 800,000

₤7,880,000

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For the workshop session conference split into Area groups. In the interest of balance only two delegates from Shropshire entered their Area group workshop. The remainder of the Shropshire delegates held a separate Shropshire Round Table workshop which is not reported on here. Each area workshops was conducted under the chairmanship of a ‘neutral’. We would like to thank these facilitators for the effort they put in. Workshops were conducted using the following guidelines:

The success of the workshops was probably reflected by the passion and range of the debate in the workshop debrief. Many of the points raised were, as is to be expected, duplicated from area to area. For the purpose of this report therefore the main points raised have been analysed and are presented with no attribution to a particular forum or area workshop. Only the major areas of concern or agreement are reported.

There can be no doubt of the intention of central government to carry out another local government reform. For whatever motives, it seems clear now that the current two tier (three tier if parish councils are included) structure of most of the shire counties will be replaced by unitary authorities. The East Riding of Yorkshire, Herefordshire and Rutland already operate as unitaries, and perhaps there is much to be learned from them. What is beyond question is that when the reform happens, it will be necessary for Senior Citizens Forums in the shire counties to re-organise their own operations to meet the challenge. In the first instance a county unitary will make it essential for forums to be able to project a ‘county’ voice if they are to be effective. However, the removal of district or borough councils, and the centralization of responsibility for all services into the County and Shire Halls will in all probability make the work of the district forums within the county even more important, to ensure that the local (district) voice is represented properly. This reform could therefore provide the impetus that is required to form county associations, and thus in an organizational sense, be of value to the federation.

"What are we trying to build - a liner or a rowing boat?" No doubt the nautical analogy was prompted by the fact that the very sensible delegate who asked the question lives on the coast. Perhaps the answer should be ‘a life boat’. A life boat to rescue the dignity and quality of life of those millions of our peers who are living, by the governments’ own admission, in absolute poverty; and the many more millions living in the grey area between absolute poverty (whatever that may be) and ordinary poverty.

At this stage it will perhaps put the federation issue into a more understandable perspective if we state what we are not trying to build. We are not trying to build some monolithic, bureaucratic structure with a finger in many pies and a full appreciation of none. We are not trying to build some kind of governing body to advise or even dictate how Senior Citizens Forums should organize and operate. It is demonstrably clear that all of the forums represented at successive Shires Conferences are fully able to organize and govern themselves and need no outside interference in that respect. All value their independence and long may they continue to do so. The building bricks are already in place and are already functionally assembled, to a greater or lesser degree, from county to county. Accepting that our plans are to utilise what already exists and combine it into a more efficient and effective voice for change, a voice with national as well as local resonance, the major issue of funding

can perhaps be faced by the steering committee with a degree of confidence not apparent during the workshop deliberations. "How much funding do we need?" This is a far more valid question than "what about funding", and only when this has been established can the steering committee examine the means and possibilities for raising the required amount.

The federation constitution bans party political activities and affiliations, and rightly so. Senior Citizens forum and thus the federation is about fairness and justice for older people; fairness and justice and party politics can be incompatible bed fellows. Increasingly in the modern age, party politics is more about keeping power, by whatever means, than about fairness and justice. Perhaps therein lies the key. The success or failure of a political party in a democracy depends entirely upon its ability to mobilize its supporters when it counts, at election time. The votes of the people are the voice of the people. Therefore any voice of the people that represents large numbers of votes is a voice that sensible politicians, of all parties, tend to listen to. A federation of shire counties forums, properly organized to collect, collate and express the needs and aspirations of a large number of grass roots, membership based affiliates, with similar and particular problems, will surely be a voice that will be heard.

A valuable contribution can be made by the various organizations that speak up for the rights of older people, but the most vital contribution of all will be that made by older people themselves, organizing themselves and speaking up for themselves. To a degree the National Pensioners Convention is a vital and valid voice that does this, but by its nature it has to concentrate on the generalities of the campaign for pensioners rights, rather than on dealing with the specifics that lead to the variations in quality of life and attitudes to older people in the different parts of the nation as a whole. We have repeatedly said, and would emphasise again, that the consequences of years of government neglect are faced and dealt with, in the main, by local authorities. How effectively they are dealt with depends to a quite unacceptable degree, despite the best efforts of the local authorities, upon where the older person lives. A major aim of the federation will be the establishment of a level playing field so that all older people, throughout the United Kingdom, can enjoy a dignified and properly funded retirement. For this reason, as we have stated before, our dream is that the Metropolitan Counties, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will also take up the challenge and form their own Senior Citizens Forums federations. Attendance at the conference by Forum observers from Newcastle upon Tyne and from Stirling in Scotland may provide some small impetus towards the realization of this dream. The combined voice of five specific to need federations, plus the NPC, would surely represent a voters alliance that politicians would ignore at their peril.

RETURN OF THE MAGI?

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Appendix 1 Federation Contact List.