ITEM PF15 PENSION FUND COMMITTEE – 25 MAY 2007 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME - COMMUNICATION POLICY Report by the Head of Finance & Procurement Introduction 1. This Committee received a report in February 2006 detailing the Communication Policy (attached at Annex) (download as .doc file) as required by the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005. The report stated that the policy would be reviewed annually. 2. As part of the current consultation process the Office of Communities and Local Government (CLG) has issued Draft (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2007, which will, if incorporated into the anticipated Administration Regulations, have an impact upon the Communications Policy. Draft Regulations 3. The Draft (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2007 make provision for the County Council to prepare a pension administration strategy document which will relate to such matters as procedures for liaison and communication with employing authorities in relation to which it is the administering authority. 4. These regulations seek to introduce a pension administration strategy which would establish levels of performance which the administering authority and those employing authorities are expected to achieve in carrying out their functions under these Regulations by: · The setting of performance targets · The making of agreements about the levels of performance and associated matters; or · Such other means as the administering authority considers appropriate. 5. These regulations also seek to introduce procedures to improve the communication and transfer of information between the administering authority and employing authorities. 6. It appears that the decision to implement a pension administration strategy will be optional, but any administering authority implementing such a strategy will have the ability to charge additional administration costs incurred where an employing authority has not met its responsibilities under these Regulations. 7. It is anticipated that Administration Regulations will be issued at the end of May 2007. A report will, therefore, be submitted to the August Committee. Communication Policy 8. With two exceptions, the actions detailed within the current communications policy have been delivered, although with some time slippage. The first is the sending of quarterly newsletters to all scheme members. The timetable was initially delayed because of the impact of the 2006 regulations and this was then further delayed by issues of compliance with communication guidelines. 9. However, a newsletter is due to be issued shortly. 10. The development of pension pages on the internet has not moved forward as much as had been hoped, although our Communication Manager, Jenny Wylie, has been a member of the Local Government Employers working group contributing to the development of the national website for scheme members. Next Steps 11. The impact of the proposed pension administration strategy on the communication policy will be assessed when the Administration Regulations have been published before making any changes. RECOMMENDATION 12. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the report. SUE SCANE Background
Papers: Contact Officer: Sally Fox, Pension Services Manager, Tel: 01865 797111 May 2007
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