Nick Harrison

the Surrey Pension Fund Committee of Surrey Council

The meeting of the Surrey Pension Fund Committee was scheduled to include discussions about the Government’s Pension Review, updates from the Local Pension Board and an overview of the performance of the Surrey Pension Team in quarter two of 2024/25.

Council - Tuesday, 10 December 2024 10.00 am

The Council voted to approve the scheme for admitting students to schools in 2026. It also agreed to close the Bagshot Community Recycling Centre, and to extend the opening hours of the Camberley Community Recycling Centre. It voted to adopt the reports from the Cabinet meetings that took place on 29 October and 26 November 2024, approved a motion on climate change and net zero targets, and referred motions on inheritance tax, farming and the rural economy, and the preventative approach to children's services to the Cabinet. A motion to allow parents to attend SEND panels was also referred to the Cabinet.

the Surrey Local Firefighters' Pension Board of Surrey Council

The Board noted reports on the Surrey Firefighters' Pension Scheme, the McCloud remedy and the Matthews Remedy. Councillor Nick Harrison noted an error in the XPS report, which included data about Cleveland Fire Brigade, and the Board agreed to seek a corrected report.

Council - Tuesday, 8 October 2024 10.00 am

The meeting started with a statement from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tim Oliver OBE, and a statement from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Paul Follows. The Council then approved the appointment of Andy Brown as the Section 151 Officer, the absence of Councillor David Lewis from Council meetings, amendments to the constitution, and noted the annual report of the Audit and Governance Committee. A debate was held on an original motion to tackle the increasing problem of motorcycles parking on pavements, which was passed. Another original motion proposed making Surrey County Council an “End Poverty” Council was passed after the rejection of an amendment to commit the Council to not reducing funding for charities that tackle poverty. Finally the Council noted the recommendations of the Communities, Environment and Highways select committee on the referral of a motion on plant based meals.

Surrey Pension Fund Committee - Friday, 13 September 2024 11.15 am

The Committee supported the proposed changes to the Council's Pension Fund Committee Terms of Reference and Scheme of Delegations. This decision reflects the ongoing project of ensuring that the Surrey Pension Fund is autonomous and appropriately ring-fenced from Surrey County Council, even though it is a wholly-owned entity. The committee heard a presentation from CEM Benchmarking on the fund's costs and returns relative to other pension funds. The committee noted their satisfaction at the successful application to become a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code. They also approved the fund's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures report.