MINUTES OF BRANCH MEETING HELD 19^th  FEBRUARY 2002  SUFFOLK HEALTH BOARDROOM

      Present: Jane Sutton (Chair) - Ian Talbot - Ray Hill - Margaret Goddard - Joan Catchpole - Sandra Smith - Julie Harrison - Arthur White - Wendy Arbon - Matthew Robinson - Andy Wilcox - Philip Bloyce

Apologies:  David Edgington - Paul Taylor

      Speakers: Mervyn Scourfield-Thomas - Branch Treasurer & Wendy Sealy - Affinity Development Manager for Britannia Building Society with Clair Flowers from the Felixstowe Road Branch.

The minutes of the last meeting were not agreed upon at this meeting due to no minutes available.

1.  Julie Harrison agreed to take the minutes

2.  The Branch welcomed Mervyn Scourfield-Thomas who gave the meeting details of the end of year accounts. He explained that for the first time the Branch has been able to access all the monies due to us as the accounts are now returned to head office in a correct and timely manner. The Branch should now receive £2,000.00 per month, an increase from £1,500.00 and he has approached head office with a request that we should in fact receive £3,200.00 in the future. This money can be used toward more education, donations ect, with the main bulk deposited into a higher interest account. The total assets currently held are £16,796.30, which includes the money previously frozen and held by LLoyds bank after the Allington Community Branch was closed two years ago. A full breakdown of income and expenditure is available. Please contact Ian Talbot should you require a copy of the end of year accounts.

Mervyn also advised the meeting that there is a 5% deduction in total annual income if the Branch does not send delegates to two specific annual conferences. Ian will circulate the details of these conferences and receive names of delegates that wish to attend.

Ian tabled four new expenses sheets that should be used from now on, although these will be under constant review. These new forms are designed to be more user friendly as well as help simplify internal accounting that will assist Mervyn to inform head office with the correct breakdown of expenditures, which unfortunately was not possible to ascertain from the old style forms.

Thanks were given to Mervyn for his hard work in unraveling the previous problems with all the financial matters inherited from merging Branches.

3.   Ian and Philip have set a date to meet in March with Marie McCleary to try and get an agreement from LHP to employ a person to work part-time, for approx. 14/15hrs per week, within the Unison office that we would then reimburse LHP from Branch income. Should this fail with LHP, the situation will be reviewed with the probable outcome of direct employment.

4.   The meeting then welcomed Wendy Sealey and Claire Flowers from Britannia Building Society. Wendy the Area Manager gave details of all the benefits that can be attained by members including savings on mortgages, saving accounts, traveler’s cheques etc. Each branch has a specialist that can inform members of benefits. Wendy explained that the Britannia and Yorkshire Building Society have not merged but now share offices and a member can go into a Yorkshire BS office and complete any transaction required. She also stated that roadshows could be organised, these could also include presentations from Frizzell, UIA, UNISON Holiday Club, Medicash, ect. These Road Shows can be set up in any location to inform members what is available and could assist in recruitment drives. Leaflets and posters were distributed at the meeting that can be taken back and used on notice boards. Philip asked if any local promotions, such as, reduced interest rates in area’s with higher housing costs could be instigated and Wendy said she would raise the question but did not think it would be possible.

5.  The annual election of all officers and stewards will take place within the week beginning 18^th March and the present stewards are to inform Ian of exact dates so that he can produce posters etc.

The suggested places are St Clements Hospital, the Bartlett and Felixstowe General, Bury and Beccles Hospitals. Philip said he would be visiting Aldeburgh later in the month and can hold an AGM there. Also, Ratification of stewards will be at a Branch meetings preceding AGM, section 4 paragraphs f /g as written in the Branch Rules.

6.   Item 6 was deferred to next meeting as David Edgington was unable to attend.

7.   Philip updated the meeting with details of hotel services (this information has been taken from the minutes of the 12.2.02 meeting that are still in draft version) The working group set up from 28^th January meeting met on 12^th February and has put forward 3 options.

Option 1 - Do nothing - this is not a favoured option due to problems with recruitment and the disharmony with differing T&C’s.

      Option 2 - Place all staffs onto Whitley Council T&C’s - This is a longer-term goal due to financial constraints, there would also be some staff disadvantaged.

Option 3 - Phased move to Whitley Council - This is the groups preferred option.

1  Staff working Mon to Fri at £4.77ph proposal is to exclude them for reasons outlined in option 2.

2  Staffs working full 7 days + weekend on/off rosters to transfer to Whitley T&C’s.

3  Taking into account length of service for these staff and move them across as follows.                 

0 to 2 yrs = £4.10ph

2 to 4 yrs = £4.27ph

5 yrs and above = £4.34ph

      Any Mon to Fri staff on less than Whitley rates are moved across using the above formula where there is an improvement.           The effect of these changes would be to ensure fairness to existing and new staff.

Proposal on Service Development                                                                                                                                                   staffs with an NVQ or equivalent qualification, the following additional points on the Whitley pay scales should be paid.

Level 1 NVQ = 3 additional increment points

Level 2 NVQ = 6 additional increment points

Level 3 NVQ = 9 additional increment points

Changes to the Contract                                                                                                                                                                    The group also noted that since the award of contract there has been a number of changes required of the service. None of these changes has resulted in a variation of budget and is actually costing the service monies. The suggestion is that changes are negotiated and if needed that the budgets are adjusted accordingly.

A further commitment to examine changes as and when they happen is used as a method of harmonisation. For example, the introduction of cook/chill may have opportunities.

8.    The  Branch campaign was discussed and again it was agreed that recruitment should be high priority.

• Tie in the drive with road-shows to highlight new recruits the many benefits that can be had when you become a member.

• For the months Apr/May/June there would be an incentive of £5 M&S voucher award to any member who brings in another member.

• many members they serve to ensure no one is disadvantaged.  The rep who signs up the most members each month would also receive a small incentive. Ian would work on the percentage of how.

9.    Any Other Business

During discussions it was discovered that the fees paid by retired members could be retained at the Branch level and not sent to Regional Membership Services (RMS) in Chelmsford, Ian will now make the necessary changes to assure this happens in future and Ted Moore, Retired members secretary is also informed.

Ian will contact the Chelmsford office again concerning the design and print of new application forms showing the Suffolk HealthCare logo as well as our Branch return address.

The next meeting will be held 2.30 19^th March at G block, Hospital Road, Bury

The meeting ended at 4.20