CIRC 055: GENERAL SECRETARY UPDATE POA CONFERENCE ENDORSE FINANCE STRATEGY 26-29 3 YEAR PLAN INCLUDING A FREEZE ON SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2026

Annual Conference delegates endorsed Conference Paper 3. Annual Conference Motion 38/2022 set out a finance strategy over a three-year period finishing in 2025. I am pleased that the strategy was successful and has placed the union finances in a reasonable position enabling over the last three years for the Finance Committee and NEC to invest some of our reserves into investments and fixed interest accounts. This strategy was endorsed by Annual Conference in recent years and has so far been a success. It was also a long overdue evaluation to be fair to our hard-working Branch Officials when they came to Conference and assisted the union when conducting POA business.

The POA NEC and Finance committee already know the importance of governance to maintain a high standard in protecting the future of POA finances and at the same time deliver a service along with the campaigning and representation of our members whether that is at local level, national level or strategic legal challenges to improve terms and conditions and protecting the POA membership. It is vital that we have a sound financial baseline. Over the last three years we have seen POA membership increase in all areas of the union by several thousand members. This increases our overall income. Of course, we need to maintain that growth to have a secure financial baseline.

That review increased many areas of expenditure over those 3 years and keeping subscriptions at an affordable and fair level taking into account levels of expenditure throughout the year, we increased hotel rates across the country, increased the Death Benefit, increased branch rebates each year and Over 5 claims and Over 10 claims when on POA business for our branch officials and members when on union business.

The following recommendation will come into effect from 1st June 2026

• An increase to the POA Death Benefit from £5,600 to £5,800.
• An increase to the NEC Mileage by 3p to cover wear and tear on their vehicles from 35p to 38p.
• The NEC allowance to continue to accrue with the Retail Price Index effective from 1st June each year taking the figures from the January of each year.
• Hotel rate for Branch Officials and all POA members on official business to increase from within London which is currently £150 to £180 and outside London from £100 to £130.
• The overnight meal allowance for Branch Officials and all other POA members on official POA business from £36 to £40.
• Over 5 and Over 10 to remain at £7.00 and £15.00 respectively.
• The rebate to branches that rise with inflation to remain frozen until further review in 2029 with a report back to Conference that year.

In addition, to the above and following Annual Conference, HMRC updated their guidance on travel – mileage and fuel rates and allowances, which POA will implement.

The National Executive Committee believe that the increases identified and the items that are frozen are fair, affordable and keep pace with rising costs in funeral expenses, vehicle wear and tear and meal allowances.

Yours sincerely

STEVE GILLAN
General Secretary

Attachments

• 2026 EXPENSE FORM - BRANCH.pdf

  0.11 Mb, pdf

• 2026 EXPENSES FORM - MEMBER.pdf

  0.10 Mb, pdf