Agenda item

For the Board to receive an update on the development of key issues and to review the Risk Register.

The Board received a report which provided an update on ongoing issues (Item 9 in the Minute Book).  The report was introduced and the Board’s attention was drawn to the Risk Register at Appendix A of the report, and the Board’s view was invited as to whether they would wish to include Pensions McCloud Remedy work on the Pensions Risk Register as an additional risk, and also whether this should be included on the Organisational Risk Register of the Authority.  Board Members were content with this.

Paragraph 8 of the report detailed the Sargeant case, and Officers highlighted the complexities and the importance of this case.  Attention was drawn to Appendices C and D of the report which also detailed further information on this, and Board Members were encouraged to familiarise themselves with this information.  It was also noted that future Board training sessions could also include this topic.  Officers also drew Board Members attention to paragraph 17 of the report which highlighted that a lot of resources would be needed for the McCloud/Sargeant remedy, and may mean an increased cost for all partners.  It was noted that any extra costs would be recorded. 

It was noted that there had been a 5% increase in those registering for the member portal, but this was still low.  Board Member Mark Hilton had asked the Fire Brigade Union to put this topic on their meeting agendas to raise awareness of this through the Union branches.  Mark would also highlight to officers any problems with accessing the portal which had been fed back to him.  The Chairman had also asked that this topic be included on the agenda of the monthly Joint Trade Union meeting to help raise awareness.

Paragraph 32 of the report set out details around auto-enrolment process when the Combined Fire Authority (CFA) takes effect from the 1 April 2021, and the communications around this.  In relation to the CFA and temporary promotions, Members of the Board were asked to endorse the proposal as set out in paragraphs 21-22, and a report would be taken to the Shadow Authority recommending a formal decision to this effect.

With regards to membership of the pension board under the new CFA, details of this were highlighted to the Board as set out at paragraphs 36 – 39 of the report, and Members of the Board were content to endorse this approach.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the content of this report be noted by the HFRA Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board.

b)    That the Risk Register as set out in paragraphs 4-7 and APPENDIX A be approved by the HFRA Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board, with the addition of a further risk associated with the McCloud remedy work.

c)    That the HFRA Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board direct officers to look further into the proposal to include pensions and McCloud remedy work in the organisational risk register, and go through the necessary governance to make this happen.

d)    That the response to the Public Service Pension Schemes consultation as set in APPENDIX E is endorsed by the HFRA Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board.

e)    That the proposal about the treatment of temporary promotions under the CFA as set out in paragraphs 21-22 of the report is endorsed by the HFRA Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board and that a report is taken to the Shadow H&IOW Fire and Rescue Authority recommending a formal decision to this effect.

f)     That the proposal about the membership of the Fire Pension Board under the CFA as set out in paragraphs 36-39 of the report is endorsed by the HFRA Hampshire Firefighters’ Pension Board and that a report is taken to the Shadow H&IOW Fire and Rescue Authority to enable the necessary appointments to be made.