Q. How and why did you initially become involved in the CSPA?
I was a Customs Officer and a Trainer in the Department based at Prestwick Airport. I was also Branch Chair of the CPSA Glasgow and Clyde Branch. I served in the Department for twenty six years. Upon taking early retirement in 1995, I went and played trains with Scotrail, and then became an extra for TV and movies working my way up until I had an Equity card and the title of ‘walk-on’. (Sounds like I was on a lead). When I was ‘resting between parts’, I think it was because of my Trade Union involvement that an ex colleague recommended me to the Chair of the Glasgow Group, and the rest is history
Q. As you look ahead to 2018 and beyond what do you see as CSPA priorities?
As I look around the Alliance Nationally, it is quite alarming to see so many groups closing with some ‘in care’. Somewhere in the region of 28 groups in England and Wales have closed, and now one in Scotland. It is the remit of all groups to recruit, and has been since the conception of the Alliance. In Scotland since the 1950s. We have to seriously look at who and how we recruit, and extend our membership to other organisations, and maybe also consider amalgamation. We are a campaigning and lobbying organisation, but perhaps it’s time to become a bit more political in our approach.
Q. How do you see deepening member engagement?
It is a constant battle to keep members informed and up to date with everything that is going on both in Westminster and Holyrood, which makes this is a very difficult question in many ways because by the time the information reaches the majority of membership it’s usually out of date. At present the only way information can reach members is in the Pensioner magazine or if they attend group meetings, as I email all Group Secretaries. You can’t force people to use computers, which would, no doubt make things in Scotland a lot easier. This would certainly deepen member’s engagement with the Branch, as it would open up a whole new horizon, especially as we have a Scottish Website and are beginning to make use of the Alliance Facebook. I hope that this will gradually improve as most of the new generation coming up to retirement, will have some knowledge of IT.
Q How do you plan to recruit new members?
Over the past couple of years the Branch has undertaken Outreaching projects, visiting Civil Service Offices that are about to close (HMRC Dundee, HMRC East Kilbride, Portcullis House Glasgow) distributing Recruitment Packs. It is our intention to revisit these offices as their time for closure draws near. Because of the geography of the Branch it can be difficult to visit every office prior to closure. We have already missed an opportunity as the Inverness Office closed towards the end of last year. We had planned to visit Inverness this year. So we began to think outside the box, and thought that as we are affiliated to the Scottish Pensioners Forum (STUC Sponsored) we approached them and asked if the Alliance could have a section in their newsletter, and the Branch Administrator is at present working closely with their editor to achieve this. We also plan to create our own Newsletter, perhaps one annually to be sent out with one of the Pensioner Magazines.
Q. What do you see as the challenges?
Trying to find the time build a model railway layout in O Gauge. Seriously though – The main challenge facing the Branch is ‘Succession Planning’, and trying to make people realise that the Branch and Group Officers don’t live forever, and at the moment we can only succession plan from the attending members at Group meetings. Another challenge which we now have to take into consideration is the General Data Protection Regulation, which supersedes the Data Protection Act 1998. It’s possibly a greater challenge than ‘Succession Planning’ as it presents difficulties with contacting the membership directly. It is a very complex piece of legislation and is difficult to understand.
Q. What is needed to ensure its success?
With regards to ‘Succession Planning’ at Group Level it’s realisation and inclusion, that for the Branch to continue and move forward there must be members ready and willing to step forward and take on Committee positions. Groups at present suffer from ‘Head Down Syndrome’, whenever a group are asked to fill a vacancy. The Branch cannot continue on this basis alone. Likewise we, as Group and Branch Officers must ensure that there is more inclusion for members in group and Branch work, but this will need a lot of discussion, both at Branch and Group level.
Q. What is needed from to ensure CSPA success?
We need to embrace change and embrace the many challenges that are about to, or already have, hit us. It is my belief that for the Alliance to succeed, groups will have to become more pro-active, throughout the organisation.
Q. What is your vision for CSPA?
A few years ago this Branch had a remarkable Secretary who left his mark and had many visionary ideas, some of which we are endeavouring to follow today. One thing he envisaged was getting rid of the ‘Group Structure’. This is also my vision for the future of the Alliance in Scotland. No Groups, but places of meeting with members willing to get involved.
Q. How do you envision CSPA’s interaction with other parts of the organisation?
I assume you mean ‘how do I envisage the Branch’s interaction…’ I like to think that we are already working well. It is obvious to me that we are nationally a very close team. Like any family we have our disputes, but these are usually resolved amicably. But I have to make the point that Scotland is a separate country with its own laws, and the Branch has a certain autonomy, but still works closely with Head Office.
Q. When thinking about the CSPA, what will success look like to you?
I’m proud of the team we call the Scottish Executive Committee, I’m very proud of all the hard work that they do, and I am also very proud to be part of that team. Success for me would mean that we have become more involved with other pensioner organisations in order to have a stronger voice for all pensioners and to have contact with every member in Scotland in more ways, other than the present Pensioner magazine and our website.
Q. More specifically, what do you see as the components of a successful members meeting?
Group meetings are usually a source of useful information and a gathering of like-minded members who pass on their experiences should there be a need to do so. Most of all conversation should be light, interspersed with humour. But there will be times when Group or Branch matters are of a more serious nature, and these matters should be dealt with in a diplomatically, firm, but gentle manner, ensuring at all times that the members can discuss things openly. This all makes for good and successful meetings.
Q. Do you have a particular area or passion when it comes to the CSPA?
That the Scotland Branch becomes more recognised by the Scottish Parliament, together with our colleagues in the Scottish Pensioners Forum as the serious voice of all Pensioners in Scotland. I also believe strongly in keeping things right, in line with both the National and Scottish Constitutions and being aware of the Branch Risk Management Plan.
Q. What do you regard as one of the most significant CSPA (Scotland) achievements of 2017?
That’s easy – a meeting with the Scottish Health Minister – Shona Robertson. We specifically spoke with her about the Dutch model of District Nursing Health care ‘Buurtzorg’ designed to meet the needs
of the Scottish ageing population. The scheme is being piloted in Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders, Aberdeen and Angus. What drew our attention to this was one method of care (Self-directed support) was to employ the Carer, which brings in to question Employment Legislation, Pensions etc. Concerns about this scheme were put to the Cabinet Secretary, and asked why there had been no apparent publication of the pilot scheme, as it appeared that this had ‘ducked under the radar’.
Shona Robison replied that it is early days at present, and that there was never any intention to diminish the NHS, and funding would be provided for this type of care package, existing benefits would not be affected. She went on to say that the Scottish Government intend to adopt a holistic approach to the scheme and would only use the bits of the scheme that were relevant to Scotland. We only had a short meeting with her, as she had to attend a debate in the Chamber, but we had a longer meeting with her Parliamentary Private Secretary, when we discussed GP Practice Closures and Delayed Discharges from Hospital. We will be asking for another meeting when we will revisit Buurtzorg.