Committees

A meeting of the Pensions Committee will take place in the Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 23 May 2013 at 10.00 a.m. Please note the earlier start time of this meeting.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive

Business

1.  Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2.  Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest.  Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place. 

3.  Auto Enrolment Update
Clàrachadh Fèin-ghluasadach

There is circulated Report No. pc-05-13 (25kb pdf) dated 14 May, 2013 by the Director of Finance which provides an update on progress being made in respect of implementation of Auto Enrolment.

The Committee is asked to consider the details of the report.

4.  Pension Fund Contributions and Administration
Tabhartasan agus Rianachd Maoin Peinnsein

There is circulated Report No. pc-06-13 (40kb pdf) by the Director of Finance which is a periodic report to update Members on the efficiency and accuracy of pension contributions paid to The Highland Council Pension Fund.

The Committee is asked to consider the details of the report.

5.  Internal Audit Review of Pension Fund Investments

There is circulated Report No. pc-07-13 (67kb pdf) dated 28 April, 2013 by the Head of Internal Audit & Risk Management which refers to an audit of Pension Fund Investments undertaken as part of the annual plan for 2012/13.

The Committee is invited to consider the report.

6.  Internal Audit Plan 2013/14

There is circulated Report No. pc-08-13 (22kb pdf) dated 8 May, 2013 by the Head of Internal Audit & Risk Management which refers to the plan of work for the Pension Fund for the financial year 2013/14.

The Committee is invited to consider the report and note the Audit Plan for 2013/14. 

7.  Local Government Pension Scheme
Application for Admitted Body Status: Care Homes

Members are reminded of the agenda note to the Pensions Committee held on 22 February 2012, regarding a request from Parklands Highland Ltd for admitted body status within the Local Government Pension Scheme.

At the Pensions Committee, Members were advised that an application from “Parklands Highland Ltd” (as the preferred bidder for the provision of New Care Homes in Tain and Muir of Ord) had been made to allow current employees to participate in the Local Government Pension scheme administered by Highland Council under an “Admission Agreement”.

The Admission Agreement was expected to be in place from July/August 2012 until no later than 31st December 2013.

Highland Council Resources Committee had agreed procedures on 17 April 2001 designed to protect the pension rights of Council employees who were transferred to an external provider of services and these procedures included the right for the successful contractor to become an Admitted Body within the Local Government Pension administered by the Highland Council subject to specific financial safeguards.

The terms of the contract agreed between the Highland Council and Parklands Highland Ltd set out that the associated costs for the defined period would be met by the Council thereby satisfying that criterion.  Under the contract specific Highland Council staff would transfer to Parklands and as a result would have protected pension rights as described above.

The Committee noted the position for their interest.

Due to a delay in the contract signing, the service transfer did not occur as anticipated in July/August 2012 and it is now anticipated that the service transfer will take place over coming months.  There is therefore a need to revise the Admission Agreement timescales previously noted by the Pensions Committee.

The Committee is advised that all other aspects relating to the Admission Agreement remain the same other than the altered timescales.

The Committee is asked to note the position.

8.  Governance Policy Statement

There is circulated Report No. pc-09-13 (147kb pdf) by the Director of Finance setting out an updated Governance Policy Statement for the Pension Fund.

Members are asked to consider and agree the updated governance policy statement.

9.  Investment Sub Committee: Minutes of Meeting
Fo-chomataidh Tasgaidh: Geàrr-chunntas na Coinneimh

There is circulated for confirmation, Minutes of meeting of the Investment Sub-Committee held on 21 February 2013 (30kb pdf).