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ITEM PF15

1. This report introduces to the Committee an application, from a qualifying employer The Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership, seeking admission to the Local Government Pension Fund. This application follows the categories introduced to the Pensions and Investment Sub–Committee in November 2000.

Application for consideration

2. The Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership’s objectives unites sixteen schools, the Hamilton Trust with the Education Department as an Education Action Zone focussing on quality teaching and learning within Oxford. The Education Action Zone was established by Statutory Instrument number 2312 in 1999 for the purposes of Chapter III of Part 1 of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.
3. The Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership directly employs two administrators and the application for admission is for these two employees. The application comes within the regulation 5(3)(a)(i) of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 as amended and follows the category 1 route as explained in the report to the Sub-Committee 17 November 2000.
4. The number of directly employed administration staff is unlikely to exceed these two current employees, and employment is dependent on the fixed term project funding. The Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership seeks admission to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to be able to provide a comparable pension arrangement for their employees.
5. The request for admission is for a specific period to cover the current project and funding for this is expected to cease after April 2004. If the Committee approve this application Hamilton Oxford Schools Project would adopt the small admitted body employer rate, however the officers will also consult with the actuary to ensure that this route is appropriate as the admission is intended for only a short period. It would be important to ensure that in winding up the agreement in the future any cross subsidies are kept to a minimum.
6. The Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership has been informed of the responsibilities of an employer within Oxfordshire’s fund including the requirement to prepare, review and publish a policy about its use of discretionary powers. These requirements will all be included in the proposed admission agreement.
7. The Committee have previously approved admission applications from an employer using the category 1 route.

Financial Implications

8. The Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership has been supplied with information about admission agreement costs and the employer financial responsibilities of membership. They have been informed that the actuarial costs may be greater than a standard application to cover the questions about the short-term basis of the agreement. A copy of the available accounts have been supplied which shows confirmation of grants mainly from the DfEE and financial and support in kind from other sectors. The Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership is aware that reimbursement of costs incurred by the County Council to draw up the agreement is part of the admission agreement.

Staff Implications

The additional work involved with the new employing body will be absorbed.

RECOMMENDATION

CHRIS GRAY
Director for Business Support & County Treasurer

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Jenny Wylie, Pensions Manager Tel: (01865) 815530

May 2002

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