The Pension Fund Committee of Redbridge Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday, 9 April 2026. The primary item on the agenda was the consideration of the Responsible Investment Policy, with a presentation from the Fund's Investment Advisers, Mercers.

Responsible Investment Policy

The committee was scheduled to consider a presentation from Mercers, the Fund's Investment Advisers, regarding the Responsible Investment Policy. The report pack indicated that members were recommended to note and approve the Policy Statement. This policy is a requirement for local government pension funds to outline their approach to social, environmental, and corporate governance factors within investment decision-making processes. Previously, this had been part of the Investment Strategy Statement, but it was deemed appropriate to have a separate policy.

The report highlighted that consultation had taken place with the London CIV, the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) pool responsible for developing mandates, selecting investment managers, and providing stewardship services. The policy aims to ensure that pension fund investments consider risks arising from responsible investing.

Furthermore, the report detailed the fairness implications of the policy, referencing Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010¹. This section requires the Council to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics (such as age, disability, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation) and those who do not. The policy's development was also informed by the need to meet the specific needs of disabled persons and encourage their participation in public life.

The report stated that there were no immediate staffing, child-friendly, crime and community safety, or legal implications arising from the policy. Any financial implications were noted as being contained within the report itself.