Issue - meetings

This report, presented by Vicky Jenks, Pensions Admin Delivery Lead, provided an update on the key developments affecting pensions

administration and the performance of the Pensions Administration Service, including the i-Connect project, key performance indicators, workloads, breaches, the latest tracing exercise which had been conducted at gold level, progression of the McCloud project, an update on exit payments, commencement of the annual benefit statement project, project proposals for the implementation of member self service, new employers and exiting employers, the guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) reconciliation exercise, CIPFA benchmarking, the use of the internal dispute resolution procedure (IDRP) for the quarter, and minor amendments to the Administration Strategy.

In response to a question from Keith Francis regarding the number of members covered by the i-Connect project, Vicky Jenks advised that there was fluctuation with membership numbers and, at the time of the meeting, there were around 1500 members that the scheme was not receiving electronic data for. This was not a static figure and the main contributor to this figure was a single employer of around 600 members.  For some employers, there was a timing issue as they were changing payroll provider but they would be onboarded for September 2021.  The vast majority of data had transferred. 

In response to a question from Keith Francis Vicky Jenks advised that the data was monitored and this had shown no consistency or pattern and there were different reasons why some KPIs dipped during the year.  Liz Firmstone added that reported workload levels did not refer to outstanding old tasks, there was a constant flow with no backlog of tasks.

Responding to a question from the Chair regarding CIPFA Benchmarking, Liz Firmstone noted that a detailed review of costs had been undertaken in summer 2020 and she was satisfied that the classifications were correct.  With regard to the indirect costs appearing disproportionately high, further investigation was taking place.  The unit costs which appeared in orange boxes in the report would similarly be reviewed with CIPFA.  The Board commented that it hoped CIPFA could redouble its efforts to provide improved data but it was noted that some clubs were struggling to maintain participants due to the capacity needed to complete returns.

The Local Pension Board noted the report.