The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee meeting was scheduled to cover a range of pension-related matters, including updates on scheme membership, administration, and significant regulatory changes affecting firefighters' pensions. Key discussions were expected to focus on the ongoing implementation of the McCloud and Matthews remedies, updates from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, and the management of pension fund risks.

Pensions Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive pensions update. This included details on the current membership of the firefighters' pension schemes, with specific figures provided for active, pensioner, and deferred members across the 1992, 2006, and 2015 schemes. Movements in active membership, such as new starters and leavers, were also detailed. The report was expected to provide Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) for August 2026, highlighting areas where targets were met and where there were challenges, such as in the processing of deferred benefits and pension estimates.

Age Discrimination Remedy Updates

Several agenda items addressed the ongoing implementation of the Age Discrimination Remedy, often referred to as the McCloud remedy. This included updates on contingent decisions for members who opted out of pensionable service due to the 2015 reforms. The report pack indicated that the Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) had obtained legal advice suggesting that Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) could proceed with certain actions in advance of new legislation, with a low level of legal risk. The report was also scheduled to cover the change in the NS&I Direct Saver interest rate, which affects calculations for members, and the implications of the change to the SCAPE discount rate on actuarial factors, including updated FPS 1992 commutation factors.

Matthews Remedy and Administration

The meeting was set to receive an update on the Matthews remedy, a significant undertaking to address issues arising from the 2015 pension reforms. This included information on payments released, process development, and contract discussions with Aptia, the administrator. The report pack highlighted concerns about the number of cases still to be processed and encouraged the submission of outstanding cases. Updates on staffing within the Matthews Team and guidance on re-employment of pensioners were also scheduled. The report also detailed administrator actions, including the implementation of new interest rates and factors, and the ongoing work related to the Pensions Dashboards Programme.

Risk Register

A review of the Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee's Risk Register was on the agenda. This register outlines potential risks and the mitigating actions in place. Key risks discussed included the loss or damage of records due to operational disasters, breaches of GDPR regulations, failures in pension administration, excessive charges by pension administrators, and the inappropriate allocation of pension funds due to fraud. Other risks covered the correct and timely application of pension scheme and tax rules, failures in deducting correct contributions, and the failure of the employer to pay contributions. The register also addressed risks related to the interpretation and application of rules and legislation, and the impact of the pandemic on pension administration. Specific attention was to be given to the risks associated with the Sargeant and Matthews remedies, including potential financial implications and legal proceedings. The risk register also noted the ongoing work related to the Pensions Dashboards Programme.

Other Matters

The meeting was also scheduled to cover correspondence received between March and September 2026, an action log for correspondence, and an update from the administrator, West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF). Updates on ill-health retirements and injury awards, as well as internal disputes, were also listed. The report pack included a calendar of events, detailing upcoming meetings and training sessions, and a section on regulations and fire scheme updates, including a reminder about the statutory deadline for issuing Annual Benefit Statements (ABSs).