Agenda item

To receive a report from the Chief Financial Officer providing an update on the development of key items.

The Pension Board received a report from the Chief Financial Officer regarding ongoing issues (Item 9 in the Minute Book). 

The report was introduced and the position regarding The Pension Regulator online portal was set out.  Board Members were invited to log-in and complete the online training in order to receive a certificate for their individual training record.  The importance of Board Members completing these on-line training topics was highlighted and it was noted that Alex Rhodes would be able to offer assistance if required.

The Board received an update on a number of key issues raised in the log, including Unauthorised Payments, 30 Year Pension Contribution Holiday and Training Allowances as set out in Sections 5,6 and 7 of the report.  The position regarding Training Allowances was set out in light of the recommendation at the Standards and Governance Committee on the 23 March 2017 to make the 10% training allowance pensionable.  It was heard that a number of Fire Fighters had been identified who had received the 10% training allowance and work was currently underway to determine whether these allowances had been applied correctly.  It was also heard that the payment of other allowances would be examined and the Board would be provided with a future progress update.

Section 8 of the report provided an update on Voluntary Scheme Pays (VSP), and the background to this was explained to Members.  Members were supportive of the recommendation as set out in paragraph 8.10 of the report and noted that a report on VSP would be taken to a future HFRA Standards and Governance Committee for consideration.

Section 9 of the report updated Board Members on the number of opt outs from the Fire Pension Scheme during the period 1 July to 31 December 2016 and these figures were detailed in the table as set out in paragraph 9.1.  Members discussed these figures and highlighted that the figure of 19 whole-time new joiners could become a temporary figure and a future update as to how many of these would remain in the pension scheme would be useful.  Members queried how this compared with other national comparators and Officers would investigate this further.  The importance of reaffirming the pension scheme to scheme members was discussed as well as the possibility of joint publicity with the Fire Brigades Union.  In relation to the recommendation at paragraph 9.5, Members were supportive of providing Members that were currently not in the Pension Scheme with details of the benefits of the Pension Scheme, ideally signposting to information on the Pension Scheme website.

Members discussed details of other public sector schemes contribution rates as highlighted in Section 10 and set out in Appendix B, and requested that details of police scheme contribution rates be circulated to Members to provide a clearer picture of these rates.  Other key areas were highlighted such as the Employer Pension Groups and Members wished to record their thanks to Claire Neale who had been making excellent progress in her new role as Employer Pension Manager.  The Employer Pension Manager provided an update to the Board on pension training delivered to new recruits as well as pension presentations which would be delivered as part of pre-retirement courses, the first of these courses would commence on the 24 July 2017.

Officers drew Members attention to Appendix D which set out the Risk Register and the risk scores before and after mitigation were explained.  With this explanation, Members were content to approve the Risk Register.

Members were taken through the new Employer Pension web pages which had been redeveloped but still to be launched, and noted and supported the new format.  It was heard that testing of the new format web pages would take place shortly by a few fire fighters/union representatives and feedback welcomed. Board Members were also encouraged to feedback views before the go live launch.   Officers also highlighted the importance of communication upon the launch of the web pages.  

RESOLVED:

That the Board note the content of the report and recommends:

(a)  That Voluntary Scheme Pays (VSP) is allowed for any affected HFRS employee;

(b)  That members that are not in a pension scheme, are contacted to provide them with details of the benefits of the pension scheme;

(c)  That the Risk Register be approved.