Manchester   ‘Are we in Crisis?' was the headline in Ariel as we arrived at BH Manchester for the first of our three regional meetings this year. The paper told the story of Will Wyatt's damning report on the ‘Crowngate' affair which led to the resignation of Peter Fincham the controller of BBC1 but also spoke of upcoming redundancies in the light of the disappointing license fee settlement. This ‘crisis' theme set the tone for some lively discussion at our meeting before the cathartic arrival of tea and biscuits.   This was Martin Cox's first meeting as chairman of the Association and he warmly thanked Tom Rivers the retiring chairman. Martin summarised the recent Pensioners Liaison Meeting at Broadcasting House and gave a broad account of the current good health of the Pension Scheme but with the caveats about the need for more money from the BBC and the active members to cover the long-term actuarial shortfall and he mentioned the areas of risk which Peter Dunscombe had outlined in London - like the unpredictability about how long we'll we be living in - say -twenty years. A lively discussion followed. Alan Knowles asked how healthy the scheme really was as other final pension schemes seemed increasingly in trouble. Freddie Knowles (no relation) - worried about the sale of Resources - asked if the BBC was indeed in crisis and what would happen if we were fully privatised? Tom Rivers contributed words of reassurance from the back row as the whole area of risk management was discussed. The trustees and their advisors were on the whole pretty competent managers of the funds in, as it were, rough seas and as part of the Corporate Governance Package were required to keep a risk register. One member wondered if the Trustees ever brainstormed what would happen in the event of unpredictable risks - say when rough seas became a tsunami. If the BBC ceased to exist - would we all be handed a less than satisfactory annuity? What if a dirty bomb fell on the City and devastated the country's major source of wealth and assets plummeted? What if the effects of global warming destabilised the world's economy? No earth-shattering conclusions were reached.   Martin mentioned the pension scheme was 60 years old and that we were coming up to our twentieth birthday as an organisation and wondered what more we should be doing for our members - and vice versa - especially in times when the scheme was well run and there were few major issues. Martin, Alan Bilyard and David Allen explained the relationship we have with the BBC - we have regular meetings with them but are not formally recognised. Our membership is relatively small and that we have problems in recruitment, not being allowed access the membership lists by Cardiff or to retirement seminars. Irene Knowles asked what more the membership could do for us? There was enormous support for the Association from the floor. John Blunden said the BBCPA was valuable just for ‘being there'. Several members mentioned regional retirement dinners where recruitment leaflets could be handed round and offered to do this on our behalf.  

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Cardiff   As we arrived in Cardiff, news of further turmoil for the Corporation reached us. In London Mark Thompson had just announced another 2,000 redundancies, cuts in output and the probable sale of Television Centre. And there was talk of strike action.   At the start of the meeting, Tom Rivers explained that the redundancies would have no adverse effect on the pension scheme as the money would be found by the BBC itself and those made redundant would simply join the list of deferred pensioners. After a brief re-cap on the state of the fund we asked about concerns and about what more the Association should be doing as it approached its 20th anniversary.   Harry Hockley, 86, pointed to the sharp decline in the ability to do things for yourself when you reach the end of your 70s and pointed out that people in their 80s need more financial help to compensate. Tom reflected that the percentage of pensioners over 80 had risen from 11% to 27% in just 5 years - this is all part of the demographic time bomb for the fund and a concern for the actuaries who forecast risk. We are fortunate that unlike other employers the BBC has recognised that the long-term shortfall requires more money now and that its contributions have recently risen to19%. However, those retiring in future on New Benefits or the current career average scheme being introduced will get less generous pensions. John Brewster, admittedly cynical, worried that current senior mangers have negotiated special pension arrangements and are therefore less concerned about the future of the scheme than in the past.   The main area of concern in Cardiff was the leveling option. Brian Rogers, had taken early retirement and - on the advice of personnel officers at the time - opted for the levelling option, something he now deeply regretted. He had tried to buy himself out of a commitment which allowed for no ‘cooling off' period for changing your mind. In the early 1990s, before personal financial advice had become the industry it is today, personnel officers had recommended the levelling option. He had enjoyed extra money a year for 15 years but found himself having to pay back an extra £20,000 for the privilege. There was a feeling that the long term consequences had not been well explained and that had a financial advisor given that advice there might well now be cause for redress. Ken Hill felt he'd been ‘conned' into taking it. On a show of hands, well over half of those at the meeting had taken the levelling option. No-one had been consulted recently by the BBC about whether it should continue. The meeting felt that pensioners ought to be allowed on reflection to opt out and to pay back what they'd been given before their long-term debts grew too large. Tom pointed out that the levelling option was cost neutral to the scheme. It died with you and twenty years ago people died younger. Nick Whines said some recent examples of bad management of this aspect of the scheme had embarrassed the BBC and that the levelling option was likely to disappear very soon. There was then speculation about whether people might instead be offered short term loans at advantageous - but clearly stated - rates until state pensions kicked in. Tom pointed out that while the BBC might do this, the Pension Trust could not. One member asked about the proposal for continued Intranet access. David Allen said that discussions with those piloting the ‘Memories' website were looking at a closed area where staff and ex-staff could exchange ideas and share knowledge. In a show of hands, everyone at the meeting said they followed BBC fortunes closely and were very concerned about its welfare and the current state of things. ‘You never really leave' was the message.   On the fortunes of the Association, members believed that we needed to exist as an independent voice for pensioners. There was general agreement that the more members we have the more influential we are and that efforts should be redoubled to gain official recognition and to find ways - with BBC help - to raise membership, either by sending out recruitment leaflets with the annual pay statements or via the Pension Visitors' scheme. There are 153 visitors who might well be asked to be ambassadors for the Association.   The usual tea and biscuits were then enjoyed by all.

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Brighton

Fortunately there were no BBC crisis headlines on the day of the last regional meeting of the year, which took place in the Brighthelm Centre, just a stone's throw from BBC Brighton's high street shop and studio. BBC staff there assured us that they hoped to keep the BBC shop open for the sale of DVDs, CDs and books where others elsewhere seem to be closing - including the one at Television Centre.

Discussion centred on two issues: the state of the scheme and the future of the Association as we approach our 20th year. How can we increase our numbers when BBC management and the scheme trustees refuse to recognise the Association officially while at the same time having regular meetings with members of the committee? ‘Good practice' suggested we should have official recognition and the Association would continue to press for that. Tom Rivers said that he would like to see membership double - trustees might then listen to us more attentively. The problem was how to reach that figure when we were neither allowed to attend “moving-on” conferences for staff leaving the BBC nor to distribute material via the Cardiff mailing list.

Mike Atherton asked why the BBC doesn't do what Philips does - provide lifetime membership of its pensioners' association free of charge or at a nominal fee. It was shameful that the BBC did not value the Association more than it does. Some thought the BBC should provide our recruiting literature to all leaving staff; others worried that this might give the appearance of too cosy a relationship with the BBC and the trustees, but Mike pointed out that the Philips pension association had successfully taken the company to court when benefits were threatened. Another of his concerns was that the scheme only declares its top 10 holdings in shares in its published literature. The FSA recommends the top 100 holdings should be declared. Tom Rivers pointed out that Peter Dunscombe had told the PLM that the top 100 holdings were listed on the scheme website.

One member echoed the views which had dominated the Manchester meeting about the levelling option. He'd taken the option at 53, benefited to the tune of £8,000 but was paying £25,000 for the privilege. Tom pointed out that the trustees had consulted current staff recently about abolishing the option. Despite the interest which the Association had taken in the issue, it had not been asked its views, and the consultation was only on the Pension Scheme website. Jean McMullen said she wasn't on the Web - and a show of hands showed that only about 40% of those at the meeting regularly used the internet.

There were questions about the AVCs that were paid into Equitable Life and whether the Pension Fund should be liable for losses made as a result of those investments. However, the Financial Services Act only came in 1987, after the AVC payments went elsewhere, so the chances of any come-back were very slim.

Joyce Harrow and Rita Walter raised issues concerning the rebates of contributions to staff who were single at the date of their retirement . This turned out to be a useful opportunity to explain some of the more unusual aspects of the Scheme. If someone retires unmarried, then the Scheme will refund a proportion of the member's contributions because its long-term liability is reduced. Similarly, a married member with the consent of his or her spouse can claim a refund of the proportion of the member's contributions which relates to the provision of a pension for the surviving spouse or dependant. However, having relinquished the entitlement at retirement a pensioner cannot subsequently reverse their decision. So a single pensioner, marrying after retirement having taken the refund, would not be able to provide the benefit of a spouse's pension.

The right to claim the refund of contributions is a once for all option exercisable if at all at the date of retirement. Someone who was married before retirement but whose partner dies before the retirement date, would be entitled to claim the refund of contributions since the liability, from the scheme's side, only arises upon retirement. Someone who retires unmarried, and who claims the refund, but marries shortly afterwards cannot re-capture an entitlement to a dependant's pension despite his or her changed circumstances. However, if the pensioner died within five years of retirement the scheme would pay the pensioner's estate the lump sum due under the five year guarantee (and this could pass by will to the pensioner's widow or widower) since the five year guarantee is a separate benefit of the scheme.

As with the other meetings, a show of hands revealed that the vast majority of those present in Brighton were both interested in but also very concerned about the current state of BBC.

In conclusion, it's worth mentioning again the great value the committee puts on these regional meetings. They compensate for the London-centric ones organised by the scheme itself but also give us a real opportunity to hear the concerns of pensioners directly.

Are you considering acquiring a new digital radio which will allow you to listen to all the new stations broadcast by the BBC and others along with the old favourites? If so you may like to know that the Association has arranged for you to receive a 25% discount on Roberts Radios.

To take advantage of this offer you will need to ring Roberts Radio on 01709 571722 ex 371 and quote code 57643 or email jodie.dawson@robertsradio.co.uk . If you have access to the internet you can see the range of radios at http://www.robertsradio.co.uk If not, a brochure can be obtained from the number above.

To check if you can receive digital radio you can call BBC Information on 08700 100222 and quote your post code. The BBC website provides more information about digital radio at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/digitalradio/listen/

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Are you confused about digital technology? If so you are not alone! ‘Which?' has just published a free guide which may be helpful. You can get your copy by ringing freephone 0800 533 004 and quoting TECHN01.

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BBC Magazines has confirmed that they can offer members of the Association a 50% discount on most of the titles they publish and a 25% discount on the Radio Times (£19.00 for six months).

To take advantage of this offer ring the subscription hotline on 0844 8440260 and quote code PENS07.

AN UPDATE ON THE BBC INTRANET ACCESS ISSUE – David Allen

Readers of the Newsletter will remember that a couple of years ago we began pressing BBC management to allow retired staff direct continued access to the Intranet. The justification for the BBC was ‘holding on to knowledge' as much as for us keeping in touch. Although this idea was received sympathetically it was ruled out on security and cost grounds. The problem lay in the perceived dangers of penetrating the ‘firewall' between the outside world and the BBC's Reith network. However last year we made the alternative proposal to set up a thing called an ‘Extranet' site where old members could enter from the public Internet using some kind of ID and password (eg our staff number). This would create a ‘family space' accessible both by retired and by current staff but without compromising security. Specialist areas such as journalist or engineering bulletin boards could be set up so that knowledge or information could be exchanged without the public having access. This idea seems now to have borne fruit since the BBC is proposing a new ‘Memories' website (working title). Robin Reynolds , who is currently setting it up with colleagues, very kindly came to the AGM to explain how it might work and to welcome our help and our ideas.

As reported in Prospero, the ‘Memories' website (alternative titles welcomed by Robin) is probably going to be part of the BBC's public website and would contain anecdotal stories about the BBC's past, photographs and even films. The question is whether it could also do what we want and be more than a nostalgia site. I had a very useful meeting with Robin a day or so after the AGM and we discussed the possibility of partitioning off a part of the site as a closed-user group. Thus by typing in something like www.bbc.co.uk/memories/staff , up would come a page where you'd be invited to put in ID and password in a similar way to accessing many other specialist sites.

Robin explained that any money used to establish a closed user group area on the site would have to pass a ‘public value' test but that this ought to be possible since the site would be potentially of great value to – for example - programme makers. Questions could be posted: ‘Is there anyone out there who worked on Blue Peter in the 60s?' ‘Does anyone remember the name of the chap who ran the BBC's Adult Literacy Campaign in the 1970s – we want to make a programme about it.' And so on. But there are many other examples where direct staff-ex-staff contact could be useful but where we would like to keep the information ‘within the family'.

Robin would welcome ideas and also volunteers from the Association who might help test-drive the site as it develops. In the long run there might also be a need to find someone retired who might be prepared to help run the site – for a small remuneration.

Robin also said that he would make sure there is a link on pensions to the Association's Website and of course we would reciprocate.

So – if you'd like to send in your ideas, or would be prepared to help in trials, please contact Robin Reynolds directly at robin.reynolds@bbc.co.uk . And it would be helpful if you also sent me a copy to fjdallen@blueyonder.co.uk . We do want this to work and to grow into something really organic and well-used.