The Public Service Pensions (PSP) Act
2013 included several provisions relating to better governance and
improved accountability of all the various public sector pension
schemes.
From 1 April 2015 Staffordshire County
Council has set up a Pension Board to ensure that as the Scheme
Manager for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) it executes
its duties and responsibilities.
The main purpose and role of the Board will be to:
a) Assist the Administering Authority, as Scheme Manager:
·
To secure compliance with the LGPS Regulations and any other
legislation relating to governance and administration of the
LGPS
·
To secure compliance with requirements imposed in relation to the
LGPS by the Pensions Regulator including but not limited to the
regulatory strategy of public service pension schemes (as
amended);
·
In such matters as the LGPS regulations may specify
b) Secure the effective and efficient governance and
administration, including funding and investments of the LGPS for
the Staffordshire Pension Fund.
c) Provide the Scheme Manager with such information as it requires
to ensure that any member of the Pension Board or person to be
appointed to the Pension Board does not have a conflict of
interest.
d) To ensure the Staffordshire Pension Fund effectively and
efficiently complies with the code of practice on the governance
and administration of public service pension schemes issued by the
Pension Regulator.
e) Help ensure that the Staffordshire Pension Fund is managed and
administered effectively and efficiently in terms of administration
and governance including investments and funding and complies with
the Code of Practice on the governance and administration of public
service pension schemes issued by the Pensions Regulator.
f) Meet sufficiently regularly to discharge its duties and
responsibilities effectively.
Membership
Pension Board membership shall consist of
a maximum of six members made up of three Employer representatives
and three Scheme Member representatives. (see table
below):
Name
|
Representing
|
Special Responsibilities on
Board
|
Employment and Job Title
|
BRADLEY, Corrina
|
Employers
|
Vice-Chair
|
Staffordshire Police
|
VACANT
|
Employers
|
-
|
|
VACANT
|
Employers
|
-
|
|
|
BIRCH, Rob
|
Scheme Members
|
Chair
|
|
MAYHEW, John
|
Scheme Members
|
-
|
|
VACANT
|
Scheme Members
|
-
|
|
Scheme Member and Employer
Representatives – Appointment Process
1.
The members, who will sit as Scheme Member and
Employer Representatives, shall be appointed by the Scheme Manager
after applications are sought publicly from employers at the
Pensions Forum and the scheme members via advertisement in the
Pension Fund Newsletter.
2.
The Scheme Manager shall seek nominations and
consider the applications and nominations received. Where required
a ballot will be carried out to select candidates.
3.
An appointment selection committee will be created
to interview prospective candidates.
4.
Successful candidates will be informed in writing
and their tenure shall begin at the first meeting of the Pension
Board thereafter.
5.
Future Scheme Member and Employer Representatives
shall be appointed by nomination and/or application from the
Pensions Forum, to the Pension Board and where more than one
appropriate application is received for a particular place on the
Pension Board; a selection committee shall interview the
candidates.
6.
Selection will be subject to the role specification
and holding the required capacity, knowledge and skills needed to
be a member in accordance with this Constitution and the
Regulations (subject to any training).
Scheme Member Representatives and
Employer Representatives shall be appointed in equal number at all
times.
In addition receipt of written approval from
the Scheme Manager, the Pension Board may
appoint a non-voting independent advisor to
the Pension Board.
You can
download the Staffordshire Pensions Board Terms of Reference and
Constitution.