The Pensions Committee of Shropshire Council is scheduled to convene on Friday, 19 June 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on pensions administration monitoring, governance, and corporate governance, with a significant portion of the reports being presented in private session.

Pensions Administration Monitoring

The committee is set to receive an update on the performance and operational issues affecting the pensions administration team. This report, detailed in Appendix A of the public reports pack¹, will cover key performance indicators (KPIs) and projects such as Annual Benefit Statements and Pension Dashboards. It will also highlight regulatory changes impacting the team's workload. The report notes that 10 out of 14 KPIs are currently meeting the 95% target for completion within legal time limits. Recent staffing changes within the administration team are also detailed, including retirements and new appointments. The report also includes statistics on helpdesk enquiries, website visits, and the performance of Penny the Pensions Bot, which achieved an average accuracy rate of 76% over the past year. Employer performance in submitting contributions and data is also scheduled for review, with an average of 95% of i-Connect submissions being on time over the year.

Governance and Corporate Governance

Several reports are scheduled for discussion concerning governance matters. The committee will review the Governance Report, which details regulatory breaches recorded between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, as well as any Stage 1 or Stage 2 appeals received under the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP). The report indicates that no materially significant breaches requiring reporting to the Pensions Regulator² were recorded in the last quarter, and four IDRP cases have been received and completed. Updates to several fund policies are also scheduled for approval, including the Conflicts of Interest Policy, Data Retention Policy, Data Improvement Strategy and Workplan 2025-27, and the Communication Policy.

A significant item on the agenda is the Corporate Governance Monitoring Report, which will provide updates on corporate governance changes, including the government's response to the Scheme Advisory Board's³ request for clarification on investments in conflict zones. This report also covers the Pensions Bill 2026, which has received royal assent and formalises recommendations from the LGPS: Fit for the Future consultation. The report details the expansion of LGPS Central to cover 14 funds, with a combined asset value of approximately £100 billion. Changes to investment strategy, including the requirement for all funds to publish an updated Investment Strategy Statement by 31 March 2027, will be discussed. New governance requirements under the Pensions Bill, such as knowledge and skills requirements for committee members, the appointment of an LGPS Senior Officer, and an Independent Person, are also scheduled for review.

Investment Portfolio Updates (Exempt)

A series of reports concerning the investment portfolio are scheduled for discussion in the private session of the meeting. These include an Investment Portfolio Update, an Investment Strategy Update, and Investment Monitoring - Quarter to 31 March 2026. These reports are presented by Mr Luke Hammond of Aon⁴ and the Pensions Investment and Responsible Investment Manager, Peter Chadderton⁵.

Other Agenda Items

The meeting will also address the election of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year, receive apologies and substitutions, and address any disclosable interests. Public questions and petitions, with notice given by 12 noon on Monday, 15 June 2026, will also be received. Following the committee meeting, a training session on Understanding the Accounting and Audit Regulations will be held, presented by Mr Jonathan Perera of Mercer⁶.