Agenda item

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 8 in the Minute Book), and also the Risk Register of the Board for review.  The report was introduced and key issues were highlighted to Members of the Board.

Members attention was drawn to paragraphs 5 – 7 of the report which provided information on Pensions Savings Statements (PSS).  At the last Board meeting, Members requested information on how many fire pension scheme members had exceeded their annual allowance and incurred a tax charge, and it was noted that this totalled 11.  In relation to the Member Portal, it was heard that this now reflected a member’s membership journey as a result of corrections to the reporting of statistics by Hampshire Pension Services.  A discussion ensued around pension scheme communications to new recruits, and it was heard that it would be beneficial for this to be factored into the training course for new recruits. 

Paragraphs 15 – 17 of the report highlighted the issue of Historical Contribution Rates, and it was explained that this issue affected all Isle of Wight on-call/retained firefighters that were employed and in a pension scheme between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2021.  It was noted that discussions had been held with the Isle of Wight, and further details were awaited from them.  Details around the audit of pension records and finance details as part of the Combined Fire Authority (CFA) were outlined at paragraphs 18 - 24, and it was noted that the audit had been completed and where there had been issues, everyone had been contacted that needed to be, and this had been dealt with well.

The Board heard details about the McCloud Remedy Working Group, and a discussion ensued around ensuring all staff receive key messages about scheme changes.  Board Members agreed that it would be useful for some short videos to be made, with signposting to these, and possibly webinars.  It was agreed that the Vice Chairman, Richard North, would liaise with the Employer Pension Manager and the communications team in rolling this out, and Board Members Richard Scarth and Mark Hilton would also assist.

Officers drew attention to paragraph 33 of the report which highlighted Immediate Detriment cases.  It was heard that five more pension scheme members had received their options for retirement, and there had been one new request since the report had been written.  A discussion ensued around communication messages to try and identify any likely retirements up to the 1 October 2023, and it was agreed that it would be timely to wait until after the Memorandum of Understanding and the new framework before publishing any communications.

Members attention was drawn to the Risk Register, and it was heard that there were no changes to this at the moment, and the Board were content with this. 

RESOLVED:

i.              That the content of the report be noted by the HIWFRA Firefighters’ Pension Board.

ii.            That the Risk Register as set out in paragraphs 26 - 27 and Appendix A be approved by the HIWFRA Firefighters’ Pension Board.