The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee meeting scheduled for 30 March 2026 was set to review a range of pension-related matters. Key discussions were expected to include updates on scheme membership, administration performance, and ongoing pension reforms. The meeting's agenda also featured a review of the risk register and correspondence received by the committee.

Pensions Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive update on the firefighters' pension schemes. This included details on scheme membership, with figures for active, pensioner, and deferred members across the 1992, 2006, and 2015 schemes. The report was scheduled to outline movements within the schemes, such as new starters and leavers, between January and March 2026.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) were also to be presented, detailing the performance of various administrative tasks. Specific areas where targets were not met, such as Deferred Benefits Set Up on Leaving and Pension Estimate, were to be explained, with reasons including high volumes of work and complex queries.

The report was also set to cover updates on the Age Discrimination Remedy, specifically deemed elections where members have not made their own choices regarding their pension. It was noted that the Local Government Association (LGA) strongly encourages members to make their own irrevocable decisions due to potential long-term financial consequences.

Progress on the Matthews Exercise, which relates to pre-July 2000 service for retained firefighters, was to be discussed. This included the number of eligible firefighters contacted, those who had received statements, and those awaiting them, highlighting regional disparities in progress. The report was also to detail the number of positive responses and pensions put into payment for members who made a Matthews election.

Further updates were scheduled on the new FPS member website, designed to be clear, accessible, and easy to navigate, with a subscription service for updates. The introduction of a new national pension scheme opt-out form, designed to ensure members are fully informed of the benefits they would forgo, was also on the agenda.

A revised contributions structure for the Firefighters' Pensions Scheme 2015, effective from 1 April 2026, was to be adopted, with guidance published by the LGA.

Informal Consultation – Firefighters' Compensation Scheme Review

The meeting was scheduled to address the launch of an informal consultation on the Firefighters' Compensation Scheme (FCS) on 6 March 2026. This review, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), aims to ensure the scheme remains fair and effective. The consultation seeks early sector views from Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs), administrators, and representative bodies on areas such as modern operational duties, outdated definitions, calculation methodology, governance, and sustainability.

West Yorkshire Pension Fund – Oversight Board

An update was expected on the work of the Oversight Board, established to provide governance and coordination for WYPF's delivery of the Sargeant (McCloud) remedy and the Matthews remedy, while also stabilising and improving business-as-usual pension administration. The board meets weekly to monitor progress and address issues. Key points were to include the development of an integrated project plan and ongoing concerns regarding delays in software delivery for the Matthews remedy, leading to a formal letter to Civica. Progress on the Sargeant Remedy was also to be detailed, including prioritisation rules for cases.

Local Pension Board (LPB) Training Sessions

Details of upcoming training sessions for Local Pension Board members were to be provided, with a shift to two half-day sessions from May 2026.

Risk Register

The meeting agenda included a review of the Pension Board Risk Register, which uses the PESTLE methodology for risk analysis. The register details various risks, including loss or damage to records, breaches of GDPR, failures in pension administration, and issues related to the Sergeant and Matthews remedies. Mitigating actions and responsible persons for each risk were to be reviewed.

Correspondence Log and Action Log

The committee was scheduled to review the Correspondence Log, detailing correspondence received between 16 January 2026 and 19 March 2026. This included updates on FPS Bulletins, tax and contribution calculators, and the launch of an informal consultation on the Firefighters' Compensation Scheme. The Correspondence Action Log was also to be reviewed, noting any outstanding actions.

Other Business

The meeting was also scheduled to consider updates from the Administrator, WYPF, covering completed work, work in progress, member web registrations, and IT updates. Discussions were also planned regarding ill-health retirements/injury awards and internal disputes, though these were noted as verbal updates.

The meeting was scheduled to be held at the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters.