NOTWITHSTANDING last week’s strike by public sector union members, the coalition government and relevant trade unions are continuing to negotiate the terms of the generous offer already on the table.

This offer guarantees an inflation proof pension on retirement with most public sector workers receiving as much or even more than currently available.

Furthermore, low earners will not need to make any extra contribution to their pension and existing pensions are protected.

No one within ten years of retirement will see any change in their pension either in respect of their age of retirement or the amount of pension they will receive.

All of this compares well to pensions in the private sector.

Some changes are, however, necessary.

The chief reason for reform is the impact of demographic change. Today, a 60-year-old person will live ten years longer than someone of the same age in the 1970s.

This means that a person retiring at 60 could be drawing on a pension for 30 years.

The financial cost of public sector pensions has increased to £32 billion each and every year - more than we spend on police, prisons and courts combined.

Reform of pensions in the public sector is all about responding to demographic changes rather than being just driven by the also urgent task of reducing the national deficit.

Last week, I had the pleasure of opening the Severn FM radio station. This is an excellent community project, serving a large area around Hardwicke, Epney, Longney, Whaddon, Haresfield and Brookthorpe.

The transmitter seems able to reach even further and broadcasts will continue until the end of December on 87.9FM before their licence is renewed.

It is also available online at www.severnfm.com.

A huge amount of planning, work and commitment has gone into this project by an imaginative and energetic group of local people.

They have had some help and are immensely grateful to many organisations, including Stroud District Council, for financial support.

If you would like to discuss the issues raised above, please contact me on 01453 751572 or visit my website www.neilcarmichael.co.uk