The Newham Pensions Board is scheduled to meet on Monday 12 January 2026 to review updates on pension administration performance, legislative changes affecting the Local Government Pension Scheme, and employer admissions. The meeting will also cover the LPPA's performance and an update on the Pensions Dashboard project.

LPPA Performance Update

The board will receive an update on the performance of the Local Pension Partnership Administration (LPPA) for the quarter ending September 2025. The report indicates that overall casework performance against Service Level Agreements (SLAs) was 98.6%, exceeding the 95% target. Contact centre wait times averaged 3 minutes and 32 seconds, consistently under the 4-minute target. Member satisfaction scores for the contact centre were 86.4% overall and 96.2% for individual call handlers. The report also details progress on Annual Benefit Statements (ABS), noting that LPPA successfully delivered ABSs for 2024/25, including McCloud underpin calculations, for over 97.8% of the fund's membership by the August deadline. The McCloud remedy project is progressing, with LPPA having assessed over 74% of retrospective cases and developing payment journeys. The Pensions Dashboard connection for public sector schemes is ongoing, with a final deadline of 31 October 2026, though public access is not expected until early 2027. The Efficiency and Service Improvement Programme (ESIP) continues to deliver automation and improved self-service capabilities.

Pension Administration and Legislative Update

This agenda item will provide an update on the latest legislative changes impacting the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Key areas for discussion include the McCloud judgement, which addressed age discrimination in public service pension schemes. LPPA is continuing to review members' cases to make retrospective payments for those affected by the McCloud ruling, though further work is needed to validate member data. The Pensions Dashboard project is also on the agenda, with a revised deadline of 31 October 2026 for public sector schemes to connect. The report notes that technical issues with LPPA's database supplier, Civica, caused a delay in meeting the original 31 October 2025 deadline for public sector schemes, but Civica is now on track to start connecting funds in December 2025. Consultations on amendment regulations for the LGPS are ongoing, covering topics such as increasing the minimum pension age to 57, reopening the scheme to elected mayors and councillors, and changes to how new employers are admitted to pension funds. The Fit for the Future programme, aimed at improving LGPS governance, is also mentioned, with a focus on ensuring officers and board members have the necessary knowledge and understanding. The report also notes that the fund's triennial actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2025 has concluded positively, with the fund over 100% funded, potentially leading to reduced contribution rates for employers.

Employer Admission Update

The board will receive an update on the progress made in formally admitting employers to the Newham Pension Fund. This follows a previous report highlighting 12 employers who had commenced contracts over six months prior without formal admission agreements. An action plan has been developed to expedite these cases and identify any further outstanding admissions. Since the last report in October 2025, an additional four outstanding admissions have been concluded. The report details the types of employers within the fund, including Scheduled Bodies and Admitted Bodies, and outlines the requirements for Admission Agreements. It also addresses reasons for the backlog, such as late notification of new contracts, the cessation of LPPA's coordination function for admissions, insufficient internal controls, and difficulties for new employers in obtaining proportionate bonds or guarantors. The impact of this backlog includes potential cash flow issues for the fund and delays for members in accessing accurate pension information. The report also notes that The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has been informed of the situation.

Other Agenda Items

The meeting will also include updates on the Pension Committee's activities, the date of the next meeting, and potentially exempt items related to pension administration performance and minutes. The board will also consider the exclusion of press and public for specific agenda items due to the potential disclosure of exempt information.