Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ayfer Orhan (Chair) welcomed and introduced the members of the Local Pension Board.

Apologies for absence received from Councillor Vicki Pite, Tim O’Connor and Julie Barker.

Members of the Cabinet are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary,

other pecuniary or non pecuniary interests relevant to items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest in respect of any item listed on the agenda.

Councillor Orhan (Chair) and Paul Reddaway (Head of Finance Pension Investments) to introduce and present the standing items.

1. Pension Board minutes 4^th October 2018
2. Register of breaches of the law - None
3. Conflicts of interest register (Declaration of interests) – None
4. Risk Register

a.     Pension Board minutes 4^th October 2018 – Agreed as a correct record

b.     Register of breaches of the law – None

c.     Conflicts of interest register (Declaration of interests) – None

d.     Risk Register (Attached) – No changes to risk register, this is reviewed every Committee meeting.

Daniel Kanaris (Aon Representative) to present the report.

To consider the outcome of work commissioned to the review of the governance arrangements in place for the Enfield Pension Scheme.

Paul Reddaway (Head of Finance Pensions Investments) introduced the report reminding the Committee that the Local Pension Board members had asked for an independent review regarding the effectiveness of the fund, ensuring Enfield’s Pension Fund was operating correctly.

Daniel Kanaris (Aon Representative) presented the report.

Noted:

Pension boards from the 1^st April 2015 adopted a new governance structure in the LGPS, it was highlighted that the boards must adhere to the below points.

·       Must have employer and member representatives in equal

      Numbers

·       Members must have knowledge and understanding of the law

relating to pensions

·       Each Council must produce an agreed Board’s Terms of

Reference

·       LB Enfield – TPR compliance Review 2018 much improved compared to 2015/16 (traffic light system)

·       Improvement plan to be produced for areas not green (Amber & Red) with timescales.

·       Enfield’s governance framework is in a good position in comparison with other boroughs, with Enfield setting a high benchmark

·       Overall conclusion of Enfield’s review is that the Governance of the fund is of a good standard in many areas and meets legal requirements on the whole.

Daniel Kanaris finalised the report highlighting Aon’s Recommendations as per the review.

·       Aon strongly recommends formalising a few fund strategies / policies that are not currently in place, such as areas of administration, conflicts of interest, breaches of legislation, governance, communications and training

·       Improving the funds documentation to be more clearer and more transparent.

Agreed:

·       The Chair agreed that the improvement plan to be produced for underperforming areas from the review will be a standing item for all future meetings.

·       A clear Action plan including timelines to be presented at the next Local Pension Board Meeting (28^th March 2019).

Julie Barker to present the item on Pensions Administration Business Update.

Paul Reddaway (Head of Finance Pension Investments) presented the report relating to the Pensions administration business update the absence of Tim O’Connor (Pension Manager) and Julie Barker (Head of Exchequer

Services).

·       Paul Reddaway reported that the purpose of this update was to highlight the project work surrounding the reconciliation of GMPs as part of the pensions administration team

·       The Pensions team have conducted and submitted Enfield’s reconciliation response to HMRC, this was achieved ahead of schedule (30^th November 2018)

·       HMRC will respond again with final confirmation and any bill outstanding

·       A full report to be issued once the Pension administration team receives the response from HMRC which is due to be issued by March/April 2019,  Local Pension Board to be kept informed.

Councillor Taylor (Chair of PP&I Committee) to provide an update on the approved minutes.

Councillor Doug Taylor (Chair of PP&I Committee) updated the Board relating to the approved minutes of the last PP&I Committee.

Noted:

·       The investment Committee are going through the process of deciding what is a responsible investment on ESG policy

·       A strategy will need to be produced to detail the approach the fund aims to follow in integrating environmental, social and governance issues in its investment

·       The framework needs to be developed in the context of relevant regulations and statutory guidance

·       The Pension, Policy and Investment Committee have a special meeting scheduled specifically around ESG early February

The Board noted the update and thanked Councillor Taylor for his presentation

Agreed:

·       To receive an update with timescales on ESG strategy at the next meeting

The Chair additionally agreed the following:

·       Receive an update regarding who is non- compliant

·       For future meetings to discuss Risk Registers as a board

·       Find a way of increasing Membership within the fund

Thursday 28^th March 2019