Petitions and Public Address
Decision:
Julie Spragg, representing Fossil-Free Oxfordshire, spoke on Agenda Item 6 External Auditors – Oxfordshire Pension Fund Audit Planning Report.
Minutes:
Julie Spragg, representing Fossil-Free Oxfordshire, spoke on Agenda Item 6 External Auditors – Oxfordshire Pension Fund Audit Planning Report. The group asked if it was appropriate to use an exemption from normal procurement rules in order to renew for a second time the contract for independent financial advice.
They asked the Committee to take into account the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the motion passed by the County Council in March 2018 for the Pension Committee to incorporate the latest and best advice available on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when reviewing its policies.
Lorna Baxter responded that it was decided that it would not be cost-effective to undergo a procurement process while assets are being transferred to the Brunel Pension Partnership over a two-year period.
Julie Spragg stated that the group was aware of that argument but noted that there had been no procurement process for the contract now for 12 years.