Agenda item

To consider the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Pension Board Report.

Witnesses:

Paul Mudd, XPS

Sally Wilson, Head of Data, Digital & Special Projects

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The representative from XPS introduced the report and made the following comments:

A.    That XPS felt the transition to XPS went well.

B.    That many checks had taken place to ensure the data was transferred from the service correctly.

C.   Provided a brief overview of XPS as a business as well as a run through of the staff within the XPS team. 

D.   An overview of the common data analysis

E.    Provided an overview of the completed cases as noted in the report.

2. The Board noted that performance statistics for the first two months were encouraging, showing a performance standard of 90% or more.
3. Regarding common data, the Chairman stated it was important to trace and confirm addresses for those people coming up to, or past retirement age. Following further discussion, an action was agreed for the Head of Data, Digital & Special Projects to work with XPS to use a tracing service to confirm address for those past retirement, or within two years of retirement.
4. The Chairman highlighted that there were some issues outstanding prior to the transition to XPS and request an update on their status. The representative from XPS said that there were 178 outstanding tasks at the transition point and that 99 tasks had been cleared so far.
5. A Member of the Board highlighted that he had received positive feedback on the self-service portal however he had received comments that the portal was not displaying additional purchased benefits. The representative from XPS stated that he would speak to the system designers to understand whether additional benefits could be included within the system.
6. A Member of the Board asked whether the pension forecast displayed on the portal could be broken down into more information so that the user could better understand how the forecast was calculated. The representative stated that he would take the members comments away for consideration.
7. The Board had a discussion around benefit statements for scheme members not displaying the correct pensionable pay values in regards to the 10% allowances. The representative from XPS explained that, once the 10% allowance exercise was concluded, XPS would be able to rerun the benefit statement program.
8. The Chairman highlighted that member of the Board could contact the XPS pension’s email address if they had any further feedback or support. Following on, the Chairman asked XPS to consider including data on any helpline backlog within a future report.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

A7/21 - For the Head of Data, Digital & Special Projects to work with XPS to use a tracing service to confirm addresses for those past retirement or within two years of retirement.

A8/21 – For XPS to provide a continuing update on the clearing of outstanding tasks inherited in the transfer to XPS.

A9/21 – For XPS to provide an update on the suggestions for improvements in the self-service portal, and on the help line backlog.

Recommendations:

The Board noted the report.