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 11 in the Minute Book), and also the Board’s Risk Register for review. The report was introduced and key issues were highlighted.

The Board heard that in relation to member portal registration, figures at the end of May 2022 showed a slight increase.  A query was raised about the figures detailing the registration of active members in the table at paragraph 8, and officers confirmed that these would be checked and amended, and an updated report would be published.  Officers drew Board Members attention to the tables at paragraphs 14, 17 and 18 which detailed analysis requested at the previous meeting on pension scheme member participation.  The figures were discussed and it was heard that some members had opted-out because they were not able to afford to pay pension contributions.  Board Members were asked for their views on this analysis and whether any further analysis was required.  Board Members queried whether a survey could be circulated to ascertain reasons for opting-out, and it was heard this had been done previously and had a poor response rate.  It was agreed that further analysis around male/female opting-out could be useful and the Chairman of the Board confirmed that he would initially discuss this with the Service’s diversity group.  

Officers highlighted other issues such as the Risk Register and Matthews/O’Brien case.  In relation to the Risk Register, it was confirmed that as requested by the Board at the last meeting, the risk of Isle of Wight (IoW) data in relation to Matthews be added to the Register, and this was shown in the Register at Appendix B.  Paragraphs 23-31 detailed the current situation in relation to Matthews/O’Brien case and it was explained that the IoW had sent most of the data requested for the Matthews remedy.  The tables at paragraph 29 highlighted the number of cases subject to Matthews remedy, and the number of cases subject to both Matthews and McCloud remedy.  Funding has been received from the Home Office to assist with the administration of this project.

Paragraphs 32–39 detailed the current situation around McCoud/Sargeant remedy.  It was heard that in response to whether all active members of the fire pension scheme felt that they were ‘in scope’ or ‘out of scope’ for remedy, out of the responses received, 12 indicated that they should be ‘in scope’.  Officers highlighted that this had been a good data checking exercise and these responses would be followed up.  Officers also highlighted the current situation with Immediate Detriment (ID), and it was confirmed that this was still currently paused, which was the situation with many other Fire Authorities (FRA’s), and a report on ID would be brought to the next meeting of the HIWFRA Standards and Governance Committee on the 29 July for consideration.  Board Members queried why some FRA’s were offering ID, and it was noted that these FRA’s were taking high risks in doing so, to their individual members and to their FRA.  It was confirmed that HIWFRA had written to all members who had applied for ID under the framework to inform them of the current position, and there had also been engagement with the local FBU.

RESOLVED:

i.          That the content of the report was noted by the HIWFRA Firefighters' Pension Board.

ii.         That the Risk Register as set out in paragraphs 20-22 and Appendix B was approved by the HIWFRA Firefighters' Pension Board.