IN THIS ISSUE Contact Information

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1 IN THIS ISSUE Contact Information A New Year Message Housing, Health and Older People West Midlands Combined Authority Around the Branches What s On Pensioners Charter THIS IS THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE WEST MIDLAND PENSIONERS CONVENTION

2 ABOUT US The West Midlands Pensioners Convention is the Regional Organisation of the National Pensioners Convention. Our main objective is to promote the welfare and interests of pensioners,both now and in the future; securing dignity,respect and financial security for all in retirement. We have a number of very active committees,including a Transport Group which holds regular quarterly meetings with Transport For The Midlands ( formerly CENTRO). OUR ORGANISATION We have local and Trade Union Branches across our Region. Each Branch is entitled to send delegates to the Regional Council which meets on the second Thursday of each month, at the offices of Birmingham UNISON, 19 th Floor, Maclaren Building from 11a.m. We also welcome applications for membership from non party political organisations of pensioners and retired people from across our Region. Pensioners can also become individual memebers. FOR MORE INFORMATION LOCAL BRANCHES About our local branches,trade Walsall : Andrea Stanton : Union Retired members Wolverhampton sections and affiliated Halesowen :Tony Whitehouse: organisations CONTACT: Stourbridge: Bob Mithchell: Membership Secretary, Trevor Coventry : Audrey Ross : Eames on or : North Staffs: Owen Sloss : Birmingham solihullratepayers@hotmail.co.uk Kingstanding : Ken Smith: East Birmingham: Stan Simpson: B ham/south Central: Yvonne Washbourne : For General enquiries about the West Midlands Pensioners Northfield: Mike Whiting: Convention: Solihull: Syd Ashby: Call: Sutton Coldfield: Phil Larkin wmpconvention@gmx.com Sandwell: Tony Carlson:

3 A NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE WEST MIDLANDS PENSIONERS CONVENTION I am very proud of the campaigning work of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention during the past twelve months, whether it be Transport, Social Care, defending our National Health Service, exposing the scandal of Excess Winter Deaths, opposing changes to the Attendance Allowance, defending our local Community Pharmacies and promoting the National Pensioners Convention Dignity Code. It is clear that in 2017 there will be continued attacks on pensioners by Government ministers, their friends in the media and even Labour M.P. s like Frank Fields who tells us that we, the Older Generation, are getting too much from the State, that we are benefiting at the sacrifice of the Younger Generation. And we are now being told that the country can no longer afford the Pensions Triple Lock: - a Triple Lock that will give pensioners with a full National Insurance record an increase in April of 3.00 a week; with millions of women on lower pensions only getting 1.80 a week. Last year the government, announced one of the biggest shift of resources within the Welfare State for twenty-five years, when it launched a consultation on their intention to give local authorities the responsibility for administering and funding the Attendance Allowance which is currently paid to 1.5 million over 65 s in the UK. Throughout last year we used every opportunity to win support for the Dignity Code and promoting Dignity in Care remains one of our most important priorities. Sadly, Social Care continues to be in crisis right across our Region with ever more closures of Care Homes and thousands of our senior citizens being denied the essential support they need. In 2016 there were * 67,000 pensioners affected by the Bedroom Tax*24,000 Excess Winter Deaths* 2 million pensioners living in substandard homes*an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 older people subjected to abuse and neglect. For all these reasons, we need a Strong, Campaigning and Politically Independent Pensioners Convention in Dorothy Lamb: Regional Chair: West Midlands Pensioners Convention.

4 OUT OF FOCUS Housing, Health and Older People The impact of housing disrepair on the health and wellbeing of people in later life needs to be brought back into focus by policymakers and the Government. Whilst the housing crisis faced by younger people is well recognised(though not yet adequately addressed)the declining state of our existing housing stock remains hidden from view in the national policy debate. Housing disrepair disproportionately affects older people. There are 5.6million older (65+) households in England and 96% of older households live in mainstream accommodation. Most older people (77% 4.3m) are owner occupiers reflecting the shift in tenure seen the 20 th century. In 1918,23% of all households were owner-occupied. Nowadays 76% of the over 55s live in owner occupied property. Whilst owner occupation may have been seen as a sign of wealth in the past, this is not the case now. Many owner-occupied homes have fallen into disrepair, with owners that cannot afford to keep them repaired. Disrepair is also a major feature of privately rented accommodation. Most recent data show that 21% of over 65 s live in non-decent homes and 67% of pensioners in poverty (1.1million people) are owner-occupiers. Housing disrepair can have a major impact on health. For older people the two biggest issues are risk of falls and cold. Effective falls prevention intervention includes balance and strength exercisers factor screening, and, our concern here, assessing home hazards and getting them fixed. The opportunity to assess home hazards prior to hospital discharge is often lost as housing conditions are not always considered fully at this point. We can see the impact of cold homes in the figures for excess winter deaths and increased rates of illness associated with drops in temperature. Cold homes can result from fuel poverty. In 2013,10% of households in England were in fuel poverty. Fuel poverty can be tackled by taking action on energy prices; household income and home energy efficiency. So, housing disrepair impacts on individual older people s lives through deterioration in health. The knock on from this is felt in the health and care system. A recently published study has estimated the cost to the NHS of poor housing (across all age groups) to be 1.4 billion every year. Intervention to improve the condition of the nation s housing stock would reduce this cost. Similarly, ensuring that housing is properly considered at the point of hospital discharge would go a long way in prevention of readmission and its attendant cost. The issue of housing disrepair and support for low-income home owners needs to be brought back into focus with campaigning priorities: - * tackling pensioners poverty * reversing the cuts in care and repair schemes*maintaining and enhancing the Disabled Facilities Grant*ensuring that housing conditions and options are fully integrated into hospital discharge arrangements. T This article was written by Valerie Little,who is a registered Public Health Specialist and served as Director of Public Health in Dudley from

5 WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) now controls our Regions Transport System WHAT IS THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY On June 10 th, last year the West Midlands Combined Authority was launched as part of the Government strategy to devolve powers to the Regions of England, with additional funding promised from central government; in the West Midlands, the anticipation is that there will be 8billion of extra funding and investments over the next few years. WHO IS IN THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY There are seven constituent authorities:- Birmingham,Coventry,Dudley,Sandwell,Walsall,Wolverhampton,Solihull. There are five non-constituent authorities: - Cannock Chase, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Redditch, Tamworth, Telford, Wrekin. Three Enterprise Partnerships are also part of the Authority: - Black Country, Coventry and Warwick, Greater Birmingham. N.B. Others may well seek to apply to join. THE MAYOR OF THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY As part of the devolution deal the Government requires the West Midlands Combined Authority to be lead by an elected Regional Mayor. Although many see the imposition of an elected Regional Mayor as being controversial, on May 4 th this year there will be an election to decide who will be the first Regional Mayor. The elected Regional Mayor will have significant powers over such area as the Regions Police (with the abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Transport (with the establishment of the Transport for West Midlands -TfWM),economic infrastructure and development and although there are no plans at this stage, possibly the integration of Health and Social Care. There is also the potential for the Regional Mayor to have the power to add additional charges to council tax bills. Whatever your views on the rights and wrongs of having an elected Regional Mayor- On May 4 th the first Regional Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority will be elected And will have significant powers, affecting the lives of people right across our Region

6 AROUND THE BRANCHES North Staffordshire The North Staffordshire Pensioners Convention began the new year with a public meeting on Excess Winter Deaths. With local speakers from Beat the Cold, Citizens Advice Bureau, Stoke on Trent UNISON Branch and our own Regional Secretary, Bob Mitchell. The Public Meeting- Forum Theatre, Potteries Museum Established in 1991, the North Staffordshire Pensioners Convention now have their own office and full time Co-ordinator. With over 350 members and 20 Affiliates, they have built up a reputation as a powerful, independent champion of older people s rights. Bob Mitchell and officers of the WMPC at the NSPC Office. Sandwell Pensioners Convention On Monday January 16th members of our newly formed Sandwell Branch of the Pensioners Convention, along with Regional Officers of the WMPC, staffed our campaign stall at West Bromwich Central Library s Blue Monday event. It was a great privilege to share the day with other Sandwell based groups, including: - Sandwell University of the Third Age, Healthy Sandwell, Age UK Sandwell, Healthwatch and Sandwell Age Well. What a wonderful example West Bromwich Central Library is on how our Public Libraries can play an important role in the cultural and social lives of our communities. Congratulations to all Staff at West Bromwich Central Library.

7 WHAT S ON WEST MIDLANDS PENSIONERS CONVENTION ARE PLEASED TO INVITE YOU TO MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR OUR FIRST MAYOR OF THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY AT WEST BROMWICH CENTRAL LIBRARY HIGH STREET,WEST BROMWICH B70 8DZ TUESDAY 21 st FEBRUARY 11AM-1PM THIS HUSTINGS EVENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION THE CANDIDATES SEEKING OUR SUPPORT AND OUR VOTES Confirmed Speakers are: ANDY STREET-CONSERVATIVE BEVERLEY NIELSEN-LIBERAL DEMOCRAT JAMES BURN-GREEN PARTY PETER DURNELL-UKIP SION SIMON-LABOUR PARTY CHAIRED BY: PETER MADELEY- EXPRESS AND STAR FOR MORE INFORMATION: CONTACT WMPC : E mail: wmpconvention@gmx.com A LAST REMINDER BRANCHES AND AFFILIATES All nominations for Officers and the Executive of the WMPC, along with any motions, need to be sent to David Williams, 150 Westwood Road, Sutton Coldfield B73 6UH BY: Tuesday 28 th February KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC To find out more about the crisis in our Health service, what is NHS England s Sustainability and Transformation Plan ( STP) what are the implications for our Regions hospitals and the challenges facing our General Practioners. Please Come Along To the Next meeting of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention Thursday 9 th March 11a.m till 1.00 p.m. Birmingham UNISON, 19 th Floor, Maclaren Building, B4 7LN

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