The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday 26 January 2026. The meeting's agenda includes updates on pension matters, correspondence, and the authority's risk register. A significant portion of the meeting is expected to focus on the administration of various pension schemes and related regulatory updates.

Pensions Update

A key item for discussion is the Pensions Update, which will provide information on scheme membership, recent changes, and ongoing training, governance, and communication issues. This report will detail movements in active members across different pension schemes, including new starters and leavers, as well as providing figures for pensioner and deferred members. The West Yorkshire Pension Fund's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will also be presented, highlighting performance in areas such as pension estimates and death in retirement cases. The report will also cover updates on the Age Discrimination Remedy, specifically the production of Remedial Service Statements (RSS), and the Matthews remedy, including progress on calculations and the implementation of new calculators. A new Re-engagement, Re-employment and Abatement Policy is also scheduled for introduction. Furthermore, the meeting will review consultation responses regarding amendments to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) Regulations, specifically concerning the member contribution structure and changes for retained firefighters. The report will also outline upcoming Local Pension Board (LPB) training sessions.

Update from Administrator WYPF

The meeting will receive an update from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF), the administrator for the pension schemes. This report will detail completed processes, work in progress, and member web registrations. It will also provide updated membership numbers for various schemes, including the 1992, 2006, and 2015 schemes. The administration update will cover the progress of the Matthews remedy, including payment processing and staffing updates. It will also address the consultation response regarding amendments to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme for Retained Firefighters and provide an update on the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (FPS) Bulletin 99. The report will also touch upon the Scheme Return 2025 submission to The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the ongoing transition of the UPM platform to SQL, which is impacting RSS reporting. Communication and training initiatives, including FPS webinars and Pension Board meetings, will also be discussed. An IT update will cover preparations for Pensions Dashboards, and the Five Year Audit Plan will be reviewed. Finally, the report will detail any breaches of disclosure time limits and divorce time limits.

Risk Register

The meeting will consider the Pension Board Risk Register, which outlines identified risks and their potential impact. These include risks related to the loss of physical information, breaches of GDPR regulations due to incomplete or inaccurate member data, and failures in pension administration leading to poor service provision. Other risks to be discussed include the potential for financial loss due to inappropriate allocation of pension funds through fraud, and costs incurred by the Service due to incorrect application of scheme or tax rules. The register also addresses the risk of failing to comply with disclosure requirements for staff communication and the impact of the pandemic on pension administration and payments. Specific risks related to the Sergeant and Matthews remedies, and the Pensions Dashboard project, will also be reviewed.

Correspondence Log and Action Log

The meeting will review the Correspondence Log and Correspondence Action Log, which will detail any correspondence received and the actions taken or planned in response. This includes updates on various bulletins and letters concerning the Firefighters' Pension Scheme, such as the FPS Bulletin 97, 98, and 99, and correspondence related to the Matthews Remedy Project Management Data request. Updates from the Scheme Advisory Board and information regarding the LGA Levy 2025-2026 will also be covered. Concerns regarding remedy delivery and service standards from scheme managers to WYPF will be a significant part of the correspondence review.

Ill Health Retirements/Injury Awards and Internal Disputes

The committee will receive updates on Ill Health Retirements and Injury Awards, detailing any cases progressed since the last meeting. Additionally, information on Internal Disputes, including the number of Stage 1 and Stage 2 Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures (IDRPs) submitted, will be presented.

Breaches of the Law

Part B of the meeting, which will be held in private, will consider Breaches of the Law. This is expected to include a discussion regarding the deadline for 2024/25 remedial service statements and the service's intention to submit a breach to The Pensions Regulator.