The Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Local Pension Board of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme met on Monday 09 February 2026 to discuss governance and policy updates, administration of the Firefighter Pension Schemes, and a review of risks. The meeting's report pack outlined scheduled discussions on these key areas, alongside general business.

Governance and Policy Update

A significant portion of the scheduled discussion was dedicated to the Governance and Policy Update . This included an overview of the actions being taken to ensure compliance with the Pension Regulator's General Code of Practice. An action plan, developed following a third-party review, identified 63 areas requiring attention, with a target completion date of 31 August 2026. The report pack indicated that 17 of these actions were marked as amber due to reliance on third-party input. Work was also underway to update the Risk Management Policy and the Risk Register format.

The report also covered several regulatory updates. These included revised member data guidance from The Pensions Regulator (TPR), which clarifies responsibilities for data quality and encourages regular data assessments. Changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules, set to affect unused pension funds and death benefits for deaths after 5 April 2027, were also scheduled for discussion. Furthermore, amendments to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme for Retained Firefighters were expected to come into force by 1 April 2026, with a new member contribution structure planned for implementation from the same date, moving from four to five tiers and basing contribution thresholds on actual pay.

The report pack also highlighted training opportunities for Pension Board members, including sessions offered by the Local Government Association (LGA) on various pension-related topics. A draft Recruitment and Retention Policy for the Warwickshire Fire Local Pension Board was also included for consideration.

Firefighter Pension Schemes Administration Update

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the administration of the Firefighter Pension Schemes, drawing on a monthly report from West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF), the scheme's administrator. Key performance indicators (KPIs) were to be reviewed, with particular attention to areas where targets were not met, such as Pension Estimate processing times, attributed to high volumes and the impact of the age discrimination remedy. The report also noted that Deferred Benefits Set Up on Leaving had not met its target due to high workloads, though statutory requirements for member confirmation were being met.

Discussions were also planned regarding the Second Retained Exercise, which allows Retained Firefighters to buy back pension service in the 2006 scheme. The report indicated that 155 individuals were in scope for this project, with 99 having expressed interest. The processing of cases was being prioritised, and payments were being made via lump sum or regular contributions.

Updates on the Age Discrimination Remedy were also on the agenda, specifically concerning refunds for active members of the 2006 scheme. The report pack mentioned that 27 refunds had been made as of December 2025.

Risk Review

The Risk Review section of the report pack detailed the quarterly update of the fire pensions risk register. It was noted that no scores had been altered and no new risks had been added during the last review. Cybersecurity remained the highest identified risk. Specific updates to risk controls were planned for Pandemic, Inability to keep up with demand, Lack of capacity or competence to act as intelligent client or effective scheme manager, Data Quality, and the 2nd Modified exercise. A risk map was also provided to aid in understanding the register.

General Business

The meeting was also scheduled to cover general business, including apologies for absence and board members' disclosures of interest. The public minutes of the previous meeting were also listed for confirmation.

The report pack indicated that the meeting was scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams. The attendees included Martin Reohorn (Chair), Councillor James Crocker, Caroline Jones, Sian Marsh, Paul Morley, David Vazquez, and Sally Waldron. Monica Fogarty, Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Council, was also listed.