The conference ran smoothly with one half day of SOG, regional meetings and a panel debate, followed by a full day of debate.
The first motion where there was someone speaking against was the West Midlands’ Motion 32. Taxation of Pensions. The regional committee raised the issue of pension pots being taxed before set aside and if the pension pot is passed to a beneficiary after death, it is then subject to potential inheritance tax and could therefore be taxed twice. The motion was moved by Bob Deacon from Wolverhampton Local Government Branch and was carried.
All discussed motions were carried and it was positive to see speakers from our region such as Sharon Carby Mclean moving a motion for her branch; Birmingham Local Government and other speakers such as David Humphreys, from West Mercia Police Staff Branch and Bryony O’Hara, Regional representative.
It was great to meet first time delegates not missing one moment of conference, from both National Energy Branches and Birmingham Branch, the latter of whom even stood at the podium(name withheld).
Bryony O’Hara
West Midlands Regional Representative