The Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Fire Pension Scheme Board is scheduled to meet to discuss its terms of reference, performance data from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, and current issues affecting fire pension schemes. The board will also receive updates on its action plan, training record, risk register, fire pension scheme bulletins, the Fire Pension Officers' Group, and the Scheme Advisory Board.

West Yorkshire Pension Fund Performance Data and Current Issues

The board is scheduled to receive an update from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) on pension administration performance. The report pack includes performance data from 1 to 31 October 2025, including data on:

• age 55 increase to pension
• change of address
• change of bank details
• deferred benefits set up on leaving
• general payroll changes
• injury review
• life certificate
• pension estimate
• pension set up/payment of lump sum
• retirement actual
• update member details
• monthly pension

The report notes that Deferred Benefits Set Up on Leaving did not meet due to high volumes of work , but that members did receive confirmation within two months of WYPF receiving the leaver information, which meets the statutory requirements. It also notes that pension estimate targets were not met because of high volumes, some estimates are taking around 8 - 10 weeks to process.

The board is also scheduled to receive an update from Tony Kavanagh, HR Advisor to the Board, on current issues, including:

• Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) cases
• breaches
• Sargeant / McCloud Age Discrimination Remedy¹
• the Matthews and Options Exercise
• the Pensions Dashboard²

The report pack notes that a trial was conducted in May 2025 for automatic enrolment of non-members, resulting in 21 new scheme members. It also notes that WYPF had connected with the MoneyHelper pensions dashboard, and it was due to be rolled out to members by 31 October 2025. Since the last board, 56 IDRPs had been received, 54 of which related to delays in annual/remedial benefit statements. The report pack states that some members were still awaiting 2023/24 Annual Benefit Statements (ABS), and that pensioner statements were expected by December 2025.

The report pack also provides an update on the Sergeant and Matthews Remedy, noting that 473 individuals were in scope of the Sergeant remedy, and 186 were also in scope of the Matthews second options exercise. It states that 19 retirements were completed, with 11 choosing the legacy scheme, 4 choosing the reform scheme, and 4 deferring benefits. Regarding the Matthews Second Options Exercise, 718 individuals were said to be in scope, with 392 requesting buyback cost figures and 26 declining.

Fire Pension Board Plan

The board is scheduled to receive an update from William Dziadkiewicz, Chair, on the Fire Pensions Board Plan, including the Board's Action Plan, Training Record and Risk Register.

The report pack notes that the 2117 TPR Public Service Governance & Administration Survey was assumed to have been completed and could be closed, but that it was now necessary to focus on completion of the Survey for January 2026.

The report pack also includes a Fire Pensions Training Record Dec 2025, and a Fire Pensions Risk Register Dec 2025.

Fire Pensions Scheme Bulletins

The board is scheduled to receive a report from Tony Kavanagh, HR Advisor to the Board, on recent Fire Pensions Scheme bulletins. The report pack summarises key points from Bulletins 96, 97 and 98.

Bulletin 96 (August 2025) included information on:

• a new version of the Age Discrimination Remedy – GAD Tax and Contribution calculator
• an update on the Matthews exercise
• Local Pension Board training
• the Firefighters Pension Conference

Bulletin 97 (September 2025) included information on:

• an update on the Matthews exercise
• Age Discrimination Remedy updates – contingency decisions
• Local Pension Board training
• the Firefighters' Pensions Annual Conference
• an FPS England Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) update
• a consultation by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) on its proposed enforcement strategy

Bulletin 98 (October 2025) included information on:

• Age Discrimination Remedy Updates
• an updated list of cases that require manual processing by the Government Actuarial Department (GAD) for the Matthews exercise
• the Public Sector Scheme Return

Terms of Reference

The board is scheduled to consider its terms of reference. The report pack includes the Terms of Reference FPS Local Pension Board. The terms of reference outline the board's purpose, duties, membership, and core functions. According to the document, the purpose of the board is to:

(a) secure compliance with the Regulations, any other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the Scheme, and requirements imposed by the Pensions Regulator in relation to the Scheme; and (b) ensure the effective and efficient governance and administration of the Scheme.

The terms of reference will be reviewed on an annual basis.