Agenda item

The Pensions Manager presented the report.

He noted that the Board would monitor the implementation of the Strategy and performance against standards. The Fund had consulted with employers about the Strategy in April and May, but only one response had been received within the deadline. The Chair said that was disappointing, but perhaps, optimistically, the failure to respond indicated satisfaction with the Strategy.

A Member asked for clarification of the role of the Board in monitoring the administration strategy. He said that he understood the monitoring of performance, but was uncertain what the Board could or should contribute in relation to other aspects of the strategy. The Chair replied that the Board had a statutory role to ensure that the Fund met administration requirements and was efficient and effective. To do this the Fund needed a strategy; the Board had to consider the appropriateness of that strategy and to monitor the performance of the Fund against it to ensure it was being delivered. If there were areas in which it was not being delivered, the Board had to investigate why that was the case, and to consider whether this might be due to a lack of resources or a need for changes in legislation, for example.

The Board noted the proposals for a charging service to employers who continually fail to meet agreed standards or who require additional assistance outside the Service Level Agreement. Members felt this was an imaginative innovation.

RESOLVED to note:

1.  the draft Communications Policy Statement;

2.  the draft ICT statement;

3.  the draft Performance Standards;

4.  the draft Customer Service Charter;

5.  the draft Schedule of Additional Admin Charges.