Guidance

VAPC north east England meeting minutes 13 February 2019

Updated 14 October 2021

Social Security Act 1989: North East Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee

Minutes of meeting held on 15 February 2019 at Finchale Training College Durham

Present:

Mr P E Kingham (Chairman) (PK)
Mr A deCourtnay-Wellum (ACW)
Mr B G de la Haye OBE (BdH)
Mr L O’Halloran (LOH)
Mr C Rushton (CW)
Mrs L Smith (LS)
Mr A J P Watson (Secretary) (AW)

In attendance:

Mr A Heron (VWS)
Mr A Pearson (VWS)
Mr S Lock (Avondale House)
Miss N Meredith (RBL)

Apologies:

Mrs S Crosby
Mr S Green
Mr B Halfpenny
Mr M Pears MBE
Mr M Potts
Mr P Sinclair

Welcome and Introduction

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, which commenced at 10am.

The meeting would be conducted under the rules and guidance contained in the VAPC Members handbook.

1. Declarations of interest

The Chairman tabled the Statutory Instrument and reminded members that should anything be discussed at the meeting which might constitute a conflict of interest between their personal life and VAPC business, they are required to declare such interest and take no part in the item concerned.

There were no Declarations of Financial or Pecuniary Interest.

2. Confirmation of minutes

The members confirmed the minutes of the meeting of 11 June 2018, previously circulated, were a true record subject to a minor typo amendment & they were then signed by PK.

3. Matters arising

Item 10.1. Chair brought the committee up to date with why this existed. It is not controlled by MOD and is a legacy issue dating back to when the war pension scheme and payments were managed by the DHSS (now DWP). Banks have confirmed that the information is not required by them. it was also confirmed that AFPS and AFCS GIS payments were not affected and that National Insurance information was not transmitted with monthly payments under those schemes.

The Committee decided to write to DWP asking for a response within a certain period pointing out in the absence of a response the ICO would be contacted about this potential breach of GDPR (PK).

4. Chairman’s report

4.1 The report had been handed to members before the meeting started and sent to all with links to the various reference documents during the meeting.

4.2 Having completed 2 terms as National Chairman the Chair handed over the role to Kingsley Donaldson the chair of the Northern Ireland Committee. He will continue to chair the ICP.

4.3 Chair raised the question of annual uprating of GIS.

4.4 Members are to ensure they refer to the recently updated handbook and not the Oct 15 version. Link to be provided (PEK).

5. Regional Welfare Services Report

5.1 AH reported that the Region VWS is now fully staffed.

5.2 The new case management system was undergoing testing.

5.3 The telephony system hasn’t worked and has reverted back to the old system.

5.4 The NE47, 48 and 49 postcode areas have been returned to the North East welfare managers.

5.5 AH explained that he was still unable to provide visiting statistics at this meeting however, activity levels in the NE remain high with noticeable issues around the roll out of PIP and UC. Increasing concern over the treatment of AFCS GIS being treated as income when UC is calculated.

5.5a There are inconsistencies in the payments made by DWP with some treating the payments as an occupational pension rather than a tax exempt payment for injury. It was felt that this was a training issue for DWP staff.

5.6 UC doesn’t ask if a person has served, whereas ESA form 50 did ask about service in the AF. DWP seem to have dropped questions about War Pensions or other questions about payments under either scheme.

5.7 UC has now rolled out across to all areas within the committees area of responsibility.

5.8 The Defence Transition Service is due to roll out during the summer providing a further layer of support for those leaving service.

6. Re-appointments and sustainability

6.1 If any member wishes to step down at any point or not be considered for re appointment at the 3 year point they need to advise Chairman.

6.2 Sustainability: no candidates applied in the last recruitment campaign. There was some discussion about the effectiveness of advertising for new members and the way forward. It was agreed to trial co opting members prior to the next recruitment round with a view to them getting a feel for the Committee and its work prior to making an application for membership. Members who have candidates should notify the secretary, who will discuss them with the Chair.

6.3 The Chair reminded members about the 10 year rule and that if anyone wished to remain with the committee beyond this period it would require a reapplication subject to open and fair competition. PK explained that his current 3 year term was due to expire in Apr 19 and that due to his circumstances he was minded to let it lapse.

7. Members training

As soon as dates for members training are notified they will be passed to members. Whilst priority is clearly for those who have not attended a previous training event other members may attend for a refresher and to take advantage of the opportunity to network with members from other committees.

8. Use of website

8.1 Our web publisher needs material and information from members which should be submitted via the Secretary.

8.2 There was discussion about how to start a social media presence which is to be discussed with the web publisher, It was felt that there may be value in using the presence/contacts that some members have already. To that end members are asked to let the Secretary know of any such groups they are involved.

8.3 It is to be noted care needs to be taken with what appears on social media and that it is not a suitable platform for all communication.

9. Update e-library

Chair will look to post items from the Committee reports and references used at ICPs.. The e-library needs to be taken forward (sub committee).

10. Consultation

Strategy for veterans consultation. Please consider and respond by 19 February (all).

11. WPC/VAPC Centenary

The Chair briefed on this initiative, which originated with the London VAPC, and was endorsed at the 18 October Chair’s conference. Members are asked to consider which events may be suitable in our area (all).

A volunteer is asked to step forward to act as our coordinator and interface with the London/National Sub Committee (all).

12. 2019 meetings

12.1 The meetings for 2019 will be held on Friday 17 May, Monday 9 September and Friday 6 December all at Finchale.

12.2 The Committee formally requests the attendance of a local welfare manager from the VWS.

12.3 There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 11.37 am.