Meeting documents

Pension Fund Committee
Friday, 27 May 2005

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ITEM PF11 - ANNEX 1

PENSION FUND COMMITTEE – 27 MAY 2005

BEST VALUE & AUDIT COMMITTEE – 9 MARCH 2005

BEST VALUE REVIEW OF OXFORDSHIRE PENSION FUND ADMINISTRATION – IMPLEMENTATION

Areas identified in the Best Value Report:

    • Review the level & quality of the present CSL service and compare the current service against best practice service provision

    • Establish a specification that will meet the needs of all stakeholders

    • Compare the cost of providing the specification

    • Consider, supported by evidence, how the specification should be provided after termination of current CSL contract on 31 March 2003

    • Carry out consultation exercise with stakeholders

    • Review the procedures used to handle complaints

    • Review process and cost of administering fire pensions and teachers’ compensation payments

There were 10 specific actions arising from these.

    1. Agree & Implement Pension Administration Development Programme, starting April 2003 √

    2. Consult with Pensions Staff & Employing Bodies on the revised (draft) service specification for effective introduction from April 2003√ part

    3. Best Value Committee to confirm Option A strategy for in-house provision of service from 1 April 2003. Pension Fund Committee to approve at May 2002 meeting √

    4. Appoint Pension Fund Manager to strengthen management of pension function (including investment management). An appointment in Spring/Summer of 2002 is proposed subject to approval of the Pension Fund Committee at May 2002 meeting √

    5. Improve the levels of communication and quality of information given to all scheme members, and in particular: a. All scheme members who need information about transfers to the LGPS from other pension schemes and b. Members about to retire from the scheme. √

    6. Improve the timeliness of the lump sum payment so that all recently retired members receive it within the time period specified in the new service specification. Improve the timeliness of the first pension instalment so that all recently retired members receive it within the time period specified in the new service specification. √

    7. A formal complaints procedure and monitoring process should be incorporated into the service provision. This should be an item in the development programme. √

    8. Pension training for employing body HR staff should be introduced. This should be an item in the development programme. √

    9. Investigate the computerisation of the fire-fighters pension records as a matter of urgency and obtain appropriate funding from within the County in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer. √

    10. Review the charges for Fire and Teachers pension administration and in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer and Director of Education revise charges for implementation with effect from 1 April 2003. √

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