The Pensions Committee of East Riding of Yorkshire Council was scheduled to discuss the ongoing implementation of the McCloud remedy, which addresses age discrimination in public service pension reforms. The committee was also set to review the Pension Fund's risk management, cyber security arrangements, and administration performance.

McCloud Project Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the East Riding Pension Fund's implementation of the McCloud remedy. This remedy stems from a 2018 Court of Appeal judgment that found transitional protections introduced as part of the 2014 public service pension reforms were discriminatory on the grounds of age. Regulations introduced in September 2023 extended underpin protection to younger eligible Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) members, requiring benefits to be assessed against both career average and former final salary schemes, with the higher benefit applied.

The retrospective application of the remedy for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2022 was noted as a complex and resource-intensive process due to the number of potentially eligible members, the technical nature of the calculations, and the need for accurate historic pay, service, and eligibility data. The committee had previously agreed in July 2025 to defer the inclusion of McCloud remedy information in the 2024-25 Annual Benefit Statements and extend the rectification period to 31 August 2026.

The agenda indicated that despite progress, including preparatory data work and the establishment of a dedicated project team, some retrospective rectification work was not completed by the extended deadline. Consequently, the report was expected to confirm that a breach of the law had been recorded and would be reported to The Pensions Regulator¹. The report detailed the challenges encountered, including delays in the delivery of suitable administration software, which had significantly impacted the ability to process cases in bulk.

Pension Fund Risk Management - Biannual Review

A biannual review of the Pension Fund's risk management was scheduled for discussion. This would likely cover the identification, assessment, and mitigation of various risks faced by the fund, including investment, operational, and compliance risks.

Cyber Risk and Continuity Arrangements

The committee was also due to consider the Fund's cyber risk and continuity arrangements. This agenda item would likely focus on the measures in place to protect the pension fund's data and systems from cyber threats and the plans for maintaining essential services in the event of a disruption. The previous meeting of the Pension Board had highlighted concerns about cyber risk and the need for stress-testing of cyber risk policies.

Pensions Committee Knowledge and Understanding

The committee was scheduled to review its approach to ensuring members possess the necessary knowledge and understanding to fulfil their responsibilities effectively. This included a proposed updated Training Strategy, which aims to formalise, evidence, and report on compliance with new knowledge and understanding requirements arising from the Government's Fit for the Future reforms. The strategy outlines a programme of training delivered through various formats, including in-house sessions, shared LGPS training, external events, and online learning. The committee was also expected to consider participating in the Hymans Robertson LGPS National Knowledge Assessment 2026 to evidence current knowledge levels and identify training needs.

Pensions Board Activity

An update on the activities of the Pension Board was scheduled. This would likely cover the board's work in overseeing the governance and administration of the pension fund, including its reviews of policies, procedures, and performance.

Administration Performance and Key Performance Indicators

The committee was set to review the administration performance of the pension fund, likely focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs). This would provide an overview of the efficiency and effectiveness of the pensions administration team in managing member and employer queries, processing benefits, and other administrative tasks.

Other Items

The agenda also included provisions for any other urgent items the Chairman might decide to address due to special circumstances. Furthermore, the committee was scheduled to consider excluding the press and public for specific items where the disclosure of exempt information was likely, as defined by the Local Government Act 1972. These items were expected to include discussions on cyber risk and continuity arrangements, and pension fund risk management.