Avocet Line celebrates 150 years ...

We had a valuable contribution of "Top Tips" from Fiona Cameron-Jones, an independent financial adviser.   She came to our afternoon meeting in late March and an evening one in early April.

Following up an appeal from the Town and East Devon Councils for sports-related ideas to utilise a £150,000 source of funding, the committee came up with 3 ideas, namely:

a)      Purchase the Rolle Playing Fields

b)      Build a skate-board park close to the town centre.   This is intended to divert youngsters from using the war memorial in our re-designed Strand Gardens.

c)       Establish adult exercise areas alongside existing children's play areas.

We did a good recruiting drive on May 1st at the Transport Fayre in the Strand Gardens to celebrate the 150 years of the Avocet rail line from Exeter to Exmouth.

What did you feel about our entry on the SCfD stand at the County Show?   We are currently finalising the information to accompany the Lion's Club message in a bottle on Dying Matters.   This is a "to do" list starting when you are fit and healthy and ending after your dignified departure.

Our next meeting in the Council Chamber, Exmouth Town Hall on June 6th at 2.0pm is to be given by Roma, one of our committee members, on "Around the UN in 14 days"

We are very busy gathering exhibitors for an information fair to run alongside the workshops based on the theme "Improving your future for yourself".   This event will be in the Elizabeth Hall on the seafront at Exmouth on Saturday July 9th (10am-4pm).   It is an open meeting where you are advised to bring a packed lunch, teas/coffees will be provided.

Open Meeting    -   "Dying Matters - Death in Exmouth" held on Monday, 21st February, 2011 at The Open Door Centre, Exmouth

The second meeting on Dying Matters repeated the information given by the Solicitor and the Funeral  Director.   Instead of retired Dr. C. Stubbings, Dr. Bartram from the Rolle Partnership indicated some of the current changes in practice.   He started by saying with his practice there are 2-3 deaths a month, only 1/3 occur in hospital, the remainder are in the patient's own home or in a care home.

He went on to describe three different scenarios to illustrate what he considered to be a good death.   Everyone has the opportunity to express their wishes and their choice provided they actually do so.   Anyone in the final stages prior to death can give permission to have added to their notes the request for Gold Standard Palliative Care.   This ensures better monitoring through a secure website to which all medicos can gain access for information, including Devon Doctors the out-of-hours service.

A new document is being produced called Preferred Priorities of Care.   Although not legally binding, by means of a questionnaire patients can indicate where they wish to die and any do's or don'ts such as a wish for no resuscitation.

It is most important that any end-of-life plan is lodged with your GP, with the care home if that is where you are resident, with your family or your solicitor.  

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AN END-OF-LIFE-PLAN.  In Devon it is possible to have a dignified death and communication between all branches of health servers is improving all the time.   However legal papers are vital.  A GP may wish to "test the water" by talking to you about death and your preparation for it however far off you think it might be.

Open Meeting - "Top Financial Tips" held in the Council Chamber at Exmouth Town Hall on Monday, 21st March, 2011 at 2 p.m.

The Chairman, Mrs. Yvonne Wardrop welcomed 14 to the Meeting and introduced Mrs. Fiona Cameron Jones BA Hons, MBA. Cert PFS an Independent Financial Consultant with Queensgate Personal Investment Management in Exeter who will suggest how to make the most of your money.

MAKE THE MOST OF ALL YOUR TAX ALLOWANCES  AND  TO INCREASE INCOME DURING TIMES OF VERY LOW INTEREST RATE?

ISAs    Cash and Stocks and Shares. Half the overall limit of £10,200 so £5,100 can be invested in a Cash ISA.  The further £5,100 can be invested in a Stocks and Shares ISA or all could be invested into Stocks and Shares ISA.  Cash ISAs can now be transferred into Stocks and Shares ISAs.  From April 6th 2011 this rises to £10,680, or £5,340 for a cash-only ISA.  Benefits of ISAs  -    no liability to Capital Gains Tax on encashment.  No Income tax to pay on any interest, saving that 20 or 40% tax.

PERSONAL ALLOWANCES.  See HMRC Income Tax Allowance sheets.  Make sure Income is derived where possible to avoid losing Age Allowance.

INSURANCE BONDS.  Tax efficient way to provide income.   Up to 5% income per annum with no immediate charge to tax.   No requirement to complete tax return.   All risk levels catered for.  Shelters funds if Long Term Care becomes a consideration.

Cash is an asset class just like property, equities, bonds and fixed interest - deemed to be very low risk.  However, inflation will cause cash to devalue - typically £10,000 today will be worth only £7,000 in 10 years time.  Consider putting some cash into investments - can be very cautious to adventurous. Use income producing investments to achieve higher levels of income, but as tax efficiently as possible.

Mrs. Wardrop asked if there were any questions:-

1.         A cash ISA with Barclays has not given interest for 2 years.  This is not correct and the Bank should be questioned.
2.         How many Premium Bonds can you have? You can have £30,000.
3.         What are Mrs. Cameron Jones charges?  Fee or commission as preferred.
4.         Can you transfer existing shares into ISA's?  The shares would have to be sold, the ISA purchased.
5.         How much money can you give away?  £3,000 per annum plus £250 to as many people as you like.
6.         What happens when you give your children your house?  You have to pay them rent.

Mrs.Wardrop thanked Mrs. Cameron Jones for excellent advice and for attending the meeting. 

Mrs. Wardrop said "Top Financial "Tips would be repeated at an evening meeting in April for our working members.   We will be organising a Speaker and venue.  It is hoped that the May and June meetings will be a visit to a Stress Relieving Farm. The Elizabeth Hall is booked for the 9th July, 2011 for an "Improving your Future for yourself workshop", from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.   There will also be an Information Fair on Care Services.  November will be an evening meeting and December will be in the afternoon with Professor Ruth Hawker as a possible Speaker. The AGM to be in September or October depending on the SCfD AGM.   The Exmouth meeting to be followed by line dancing.

Mrs. Wardrop asked Members for volunteers for organising teas etc. at meetings  -  names to her.

Mrs. Wardrop then introduced Ms. Gillie Newcombe, Chairman of SCfD to report on what SCfD has been organising.

  1. SCfD has been running for 3½ years .   We have 2,000 Members and there are 23 Groups in Devon.
  2. The Committee work hard organising events and it is disappointing when attendance in poor.
  3. Promoting events can be a problem.
  4. The Assembly meeting tomorrow (22nd March) is about promoting SCfD.   To canvass views of older people and work closer with other organisations.
  5. Social isolation is a big problem.
  6. Ideally "Planning of Houses" should include width of doors (suitable for wheelchairs), corridors, exits, entrances and stairs should all be wider.   New housing should be designed for life and especially suitable for older people.   Ms. Newcombe suggested everyone write to every District Council about this.
  7. Large buildings should have 2 lifts.
  8. Gardens can be a problem and suggested you invite someone to use the spare garden as a vegetable patch.
  9. Ideally when you buy a house this should be a "House for Life".
  10. At the Assembly meeting Health and Social Care issues will be looked at closely.   Unfortunately there is not so much funding for this.

Mrs. Wardrop thanked Ms. Newcombe for her talk and said not many Members attend the Assembly meetings.

Ron Roberts spoke from the public section of the chamber where there are no microphones, so the record may not be totally accurate.   He reported setting up a website designed to give accessibility of the infrastructure for Exmouth.  As an example he cited holes in pathways for long periods when relaying pipes and the awkward placing of barriers for the handicapped residents.   GN asked RR to supply her with facts about his example, and confirmed her intention of inviting him to make a presentation to the board as soon as pressure of business allowed.   He expressed disgust at his failure to present motions at the EGM and AGM of the County organisation, and announced his intention to resign from the 1st May.

Mrs. Wardrop thanked everyone for attending the meeting.  The meeting closed at 3.35 p.m.