The Staff and Pensions Committee of Warwickshire Council met on Monday 8 June 2026 to discuss changes to the governance of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and updates on pension administration. The committee noted and commented on proposed changes to the governance of the LGPS, including the renaming of the Pension Fund Investment Sub-Committee to the LGPS Pension Fund Sub-Committee and the delegation of LGPS functions to it. They also noted and commented on proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for both the Staff and Pensions Committee and the new LGPS Pension Fund Sub-Committee, recommending them for approval by the Council. The committee also noted and commented upon a Recruitment and Retention Policy for employer and member representatives on the sub-committee. The committee discussed the necessity of addressing governance requirements proactively before Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) to avoid potential challenges. The committee noted the intention to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Resources to make any necessary updates to recommendations for the Council based on feedback received.

LGPS Governance Action Plan and Terms of Reference

The committee discussed the LGPS Governance Action Plan, noting progress on actions identified by AON and those arising from the Pension Schemes Act 2026 and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The committee noted and commented on proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for both the Staff and Pensions Committee and the new LGPS Pension Fund Sub-Committee, recommending them for approval by the Council. A Recruitment and Retention Policy for employer and member representatives on the sub-committee was also noted and commented upon. Councillor Sarah Feeney expressed concerns about the timing of these changes, but Chris Norton, Head of Investments, Audit and Risk, explained the necessity of addressing governance requirements proactively before LGR to avoid potential challenges. The committee noted the intention to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Resources to make any necessary updates to recommendations for the Council based on feedback received.

Pension Administration Activity and Performance Update

Lisa Eglesfield, Pensions Administration Service Manager, presented an update on the administration activity and performance of the Pensions Administration Service (PAS). The report highlighted a steady increase in members accessing the Engage self-service portal, with plans to expand its functionality to include frozen refund members and council members. Key performance indicators (KPIs) were reviewed, with 12 out of 16 meeting the 95% target. Staff changes and an increase in workload, partly driven by the Engage system, were cited as factors affecting performance in some areas, particularly KPIs B4 and B15. The committee discussed the issue of pension overpayments, with approximately nine cases identified, the largest of which involved an overpayment of over £20,000, with an estimated total value of around £150,000. The PAS is working to recover these overpayments, with a default position of seeking full recovery, though exceptions may be made where recovery would compromise national living standards. The report also detailed progress on regulatory changes, including Access and Fairness and Access and Protection, which will impact survivor benefits, death grants, and allow Councillor members to join the LGPS. The committee noted the need for additional resource to manage rectification work related to these changes, including a 12-month Pension Officer position.

Amendments to The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) Regulations

The committee discussed amendments to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2015 concerning the member contribution structure. A new five-tier structure, based on actual pensionable pay rather than full-time equivalent, has been implemented to improve fairness for part-time and variable-hours firefighters. This change, effective from 1 April 2026, also includes an annual CPI indexation mechanism to keep contribution thresholds up to date. While most members will see little change, some higher earners will experience an increase in their contributions. The committee noted that the Warwickshire County Council Policy, based on the Local Government Association (LGA) model framework, has been created to manage the implementation of these changes and was presented for approval.

Review of Fire Local Pension Board Minutes

The committee reviewed the minutes of the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Local Pension Board meeting held on 9 February 2026. Key points included progress on the General Code of Practice review, with 63 actions identified and a target completion date of 31 August 2026. Updates were also provided on the age discrimination remedy (McCloud ) and the second modified retained exercise (Matthews ), which allows retained firefighters to purchase additional pension service. The administration of these schemes is outsourced to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF).

Employers Joining and Leaving the Pension Scheme

Lisa Eglesfield presented the standard report on employers joining and leaving the pension fund. It was noted that the fund currently administers the LGPS for 258 employers. The report detailed applications from new employers and academies, with a general trend of expansion in the scheme, with approximately 20 new employers joining annually. The committee noted the recommendation to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Resources to approve applications from employers listed in Appendix 1, provided they meet the criteria set out in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013.