Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting.

Members may still disclose any interest in any item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2021 and authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12th January 2021 were otherwise agreed as a correct record and, due to COVID-19, will be signed by the Chairman at a later date.

Report attached

The report presented to the Committee sought approval for May Harris to be added to the Pension Fund with the transfer of 7 members of staff.

The Committee noted May Harris was awarded a contract for cleaning service for Royal Liberty and Sanders’ School for a minimum of 3 years. Members noted the contract commenced on 1^st January 2020 for Royal Liberty and 13^th January 2020 for Sanders’. The contribution rate was set at 25.26% for Royal Liberty and 24.36% for Sanders’ with the Success for All Education Trust (SFAET) acting as the guarantor.

The Committee agreed to admit May Harris into the Pension Fund subject to:

a)    An Admission agreement for each academy being in place with all relevant parties signing up to respective Admission Agreements, and

b)    May Harris Multi Services Ltd securing a Guarantee in an approved form from SFAET to protect the Fund in respect of each academy.

Report attached

The report presented to the Committee sought approval for Olive Dining Limited to be added to the Pension Fund with the transfer of 6 members of staff.

The Committee noted Olive Dining was awarded a contract for catering for Drapers’ School for a minimum of 3 years which commenced on 1^st November 2020. Members noted the indemnity level of £102,000 with a contribution rate of 41%.

The Committee agreed to admit Olive Dining Limited to the Pension Fund subject to:

a)    All parties signing up to an Admission Agreement, and

b)    Olive Dining Ltd securing a bond of £102,000 to protect the Pension Fund.

Report and appendix attached

The Committee received a report that presented to Members the policy on Voluntary Scheme Pays (VSP) for members who breach the HMRC’s Annual Allowance (AA) limit for pension saving growth.

Members noted that AA limit was set at £40k per annum and if tax is occurred by savings exceeding this limit then it can be paid direct to HMRC or, alternatively, members can use the Mandatory Scheme Pays under criteria 3 to pay the AA tax. If a member does not fall under any criteria, they can request for the fund to pay the AA tax but would need approval from the Authority and would only pay tax on growth that has been made solely in the Havering Pension Fund. Members noted that any member who have an income of over £240k per annum are subject to a tapered AA which reduces the limit from £40k to £4k incrementally between £240k and £312k per annum.

The Committee agreed to use the VSP where:

a)    A member’s pension savings within the Fund is subject to the tapered annual allowance, and

b)    The tax breach stems only from the member’s London Borough of Havering Pension Fund benefits rather than via growth in multiple pension schemes, and

c)    The application is received in writing to the Fund by 30 November in the tax year following the year to which the tax charge relates.

d)    Late applications may be considered by the Head of People Transactional Services on a case by case basis.

Report and appendix attached

The report presented to the Committee gave an update on the funding position of the Pension Fund.

Members noted that the funding level had decreased from 70% as at 31^st March 2019 to 68.1% as at 30^th September 2020 but had grown to 76% as at February 2021 with the funding plan on track.

The Committee noted that report and the Havering Pension Fund interim funding position update as at 30 September 2020.

Report and appendices attached

The Committee received a report that presented the Discretions Policy for the Pension Fund.

Members noted that following guidance from the LGA the Local Authorities and Scheme Employers in the LGPS are required to formulate, publish and keep under review a statement of policy on all mandatory discretions or recommended non-mandatory discretions.

The Committee approved the Havering Administering Authority and Employing Authority Discretions Policies.

The Committee agreed to exclude the Public from the remainder of the meeting where appropriate on the grounds that it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public were present during those items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Report and exempt appendix attached

The report presented before the Committee showed members the forecasted spend for 2020-21 for the Pensions Administration Contract held by Lancashire County Council and administered by LPPA.

Members noted that the budget for the contract stood at £504,000 and as at November 2020 the LPPA forecasted that send for quarter 2 was £506,000 compared to the budget of £320,000, meaning an overspend of £186,000. Havering would be liable to pay 50% of the total overspend as per the service agreement.

The Committee noted the additional costs the Council are due to pay and approved the 2021-22 budget.

Report and appendix attached

The Committee received an update on the Investment Strategy and its implementation.

The Advisor to the Fund, Hymans, presented to the Committee the next steps and recommendations which have been highlighted form the work that has been undertaken.

The Committee agreed to:

a)    Increase the SISF IV commitment by €10million.

b)    Make a commitment of 2.5% of the fund’s assets to the LCIV Renewable Infrastructure Fund, subject to their being no adverse issues indicated once the provision of formal advice has been given on the structure.

c)    Make further allocations to the Private Debt mandate to maintain the 7.5% asset class level. Precise amounts will be subject to agreement with Officers based on prevailing requirements of the Fund.

d)    Convert the Baillie Gifford Global Alpha fun to the Baillie Gifford Paris Aligned Global Alpha Fund, subject to there being no adverse issues indicated once due diligence has been undertaken on the strategy.

Report and appendices attached (2 exempt)

The report presented to the Committee gave an update on the Pension Fund’s investment performance as at 31^st December 2020.

The members noted that the fund value was £851million and had grown by 7%, outperforming its benchmarks.

The Committee:

a)    Considered Hymans Market Background, Strategic Overview and Manager Performance Report (Appendix A)

b)    Considered Hymans Performance Report and views (Appendix B Exempt)

c)    Received presentation from the Funds Global Property Manager CBRE (Appendix C – Exempt)

d)    Considered the quarterly reports sent electronically, provided by each investment manager.

e)    Noted the analysis of the cash balances