Issue - meetings

Government policy, now brought into effect by recent Regulations effective 1 November 2016, requires the Avon Pension Fund to pool its investment assets.  To meet this requirement, the Avon Pension Fund is participating in Brunel Pension Partnership (BPP).

The Council considered a report about the Council’s participation in Brunel Pension Partnership.

On a motion from Councillor David Veale, seconded by Councillor Charles Gerrish, it was

RESOLVED

1.  That, in its capacity as the Administering Authority for the Avon Pension Fund, and having received and reviewed the Full Business Case relating to the proposed Brunel Pension Partnership, the Council hereby resolves to enter into investment pooling with respect to the Avon Pension Fund.

Such resolution is made on and subject to the following terms and conditions:

  i.  That the Brunel Pension Partnership investment pool is developed, funded and implemented substantially in accordance with provisions in the Full Business Case and more particularly that:

·  A FCA regulated company to be named Brunel Pension Partnership Limited be established and operated substantially in accordance with provisions in the Full Business Case as to its ownership, structure, governance and services capability;

·  A new supervisory body be established comprising the Council and all other Administering Authority participants in the Brunel Pension Partnership to act to ensure effective oversight of the Council’s investment and participation in the Brunel Pension Partnership.

  ii.  Delegate to the Leader of the Council the exercising of all Council functions as shareholder of the company, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer.

  iii.  The Avon Pension Fund Committee be authorised and granted delegated powers to undertake such tasks as it thinks appropriate to progress implementation of investment pooling, and to take such decisions and do all other things deemed necessary in order to promote the interests of the Council with respect to pooling, which without limitation shall include participation in the development of  Terms of Reference and the role of the supervisory board and agreeing and authorising financial expenditure or investment that may be required consequential upon the Council’s participation in the Brunel Pension Partnership.

  iv.  That the Chief Finance Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Business Finance and Pensions be authorised and granted delegated powers to undertake such tasks as they think appropriate to progress implementation of investment pooling, and to take such decisions and do all other things deemed necessary in order to support the Avon Pension Fund Committee with respect to pooling, which without limitation shall include agreeing and authorising documentation and contracts, and informing and advising the Committee on the continued viability and suitability of investment pooling in light of any developments, financial or otherwise, in the period up to the establishment of the Brunel Pension Partnership.

  v.  That subject to the above, all such matters be carried out with the aim of achieving a target date for investment pooling of 1 April 2018, and otherwise subject to such intermediate steps and timescales as may be considered appropriate and necessary by the Avon Pension Fund Committee.

[Notes;

1.  The above resolution was carried with one abstention from Councillor Lin Patterson and all other Councillors voting in favour.]