Agenda and minutes
PDF 158 KBVenue: The Chapel, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Croydon Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0EJ
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: No apologies were received and there were no substitutions. |
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MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 16 October 2015
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Minutes: These were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of interests from Board members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes:
1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (20 July 2016). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (19 July 2016) 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were no questions or petitions. |
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PENSION REGULATOR REGISTRATION - VERBAL UPDATE
To update the Board on progress with registering the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme with the Pension Regulator. Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None.
Witnesses:
Sue Grimstead, Operations Manager, Pension Services Neil Mason, Senior Advisor (Pension Fund), Pensions and Treasury Lindsey Shaw, Workforce Information Officer, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Board was informed that the Pension Regulator had been introduced as part of the new statutory framework for public services pension funds in April 2015.
2. The Board was informed of the following information:
· The Regulator had contacted the Council in March 2016 requesting that the Firefighters’ Pension Fund complete registration via a data return. Pension Services wrote on 25 April 2016 asking for clarification on some of the information requested. · The Regulator had followed this with a letter to Leader of the Council and the Board Chairman on 13 June 2016 advising there was a penalty for not registering the fund. · The Pension Regulator confirmed receipt of the registration information on 21 June 2016. There was a further request from the Regulator’s policy lead on 8 July, though this was subsequently queried and confirmation was provided that the return on 21 June 2016 had been received.
3. Officers expressed the view that the confusion had been as a result of the new requirements from the Pension Regulator. A link had subsequently been established with the Regulator and officers stated that they were confident annual data returns would be supplied on time in August 2016.
4. It was confirmed by officers that there had been no material impact on members, and that there had been no further consequence to the Fund.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
Pension Service to inform the Board when the 2015/16 annual return has been supplied to the Pension Regulator.
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ADMINISTRATION STATISTICS 1 APRIL 2015 - 31 MARCH 2016
The Board is asked to note the content of this report and make recommendations if any further action is required. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None.
Witnesses:
Sue Grimstead, Operations Manager, Pension Services Neil Mason, Senior Advisor (Pension Fund), Pensions and Treasury Lindsey Shaw, Workforce Information Officer, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers commented that the Scheme Advisory Board for Firefighters Pension Funds had not issued any Key Performance Indicator (KPI) guidance at the present time. Consequently, the administration statistics were presented to the Board as a base set of KPIs. It was highlighted that the Pension Service would welcome the Board’s assistance in devising a set of KPIs that would help fulfil its role.
2. The Board requested that a regular item was brought on the number of Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures (IDRPs) undertaken, and a brief summary of issues and themes arising from these.
3. The Board requested that a list of communications that had been sent to members of the Fund to be reported to the Board regularly.
4. Officers clarified that pensioners who had passed away would still have an impact on the fund, as widows would be in receipt of a widow’s/widower’s pension.
5. It was confirmed that a number of lump sum payments had been processed after 10 working days from the point of retirement. This was as result of the process for authorising lump sums, which often were significant amounts requiring higher officer authorisation. The Pension Service and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service were seeking to improve this process through better electronic communication.
6. The Board confirmed with officers that all pensions were paid on the last Thursday of the month, and that there were no instances of delayed payment in that respect.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
Future Key Performance Indicator reports to include: · number of Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures (IDRPs) undertaken, and a brief summary of issues and themes arising from these. · a list of communications to members in the preceding period. |
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DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
Minutes: The Board agreed there would be benefit to meeting twice a year. Officers agreed to look at scheduling a meeting in winter 2016. |