As a result of the Hutton review into public pension schemes, the Government has introduced a number of initiatives to ensure that pension schemes are administered efficiently and effectively.
Since 1 April 2015, the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme has a National Scheme Advisory Board, and Local Pension Boards have also been established.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has a Local Pension Board, which is made up of Authority Member’s, employer and employee representatives:
- Ian Cotter (Chair), Head of Financial Services & Authority Treasurer – Officer/Employer representative
- AM Damien Bence – Officer/Employer representative
- Cllr Richard Biggs (Vice Chair) – Fire and Rescue Authority Member/Employer representative
- Cllr Rebecca Knox – Fire and Rescue Authority Member/Employer representative
- Cllr Clare Weight – (Reserve) Fire and Rescue Authority Member/Employer representative
- Sean Frampton – Retiree/Employee representative
- Gerard Senior – Retiree/Employee representative
- Allan Frias-Robles – Employee representative
- Vacancy – Employee representative
Head of HR, Carol Swan is present at Board meetings as Scheme Manager.
When pension board Members sign up to the role, they commit to have the time, interest and understanding of the pension schemes in order to represent the scheme members, training is also provided to keep knowledge up to date.
The role of our Local Pension Board
The role of our Local Pension Board is to ensure that the firefighters’ pensions schemes are properly managed.
It provides scrutiny of decisions made by the Service in order to provide more assurance to taxpayers and scheme members. It is required to assist the Fire and Rescue Authority in reviewing how the Firefighters’ Pension and Compensation Schemes work locally, and allows the Board to look at the systems underpinning the local administration of the scheme, and how decisions are made.
This includes:
- Managing risks and ensuring there are adequate internal controls;
- Keeping records and ensuring the quality of member data;
- Ensuring the correct contributions are paid to the scheme;
- Managing conflicts of interest;
- Publishing information about the Board;
- Communicating information to members; and
- Resolving disputes and reporting certain breaches of the law.
Click here to view the Terms of Reference of the Local Pension Board.
Future meeting dates of the Local Pension Board
- 1 February 2024
Minutes of the Local Pension Board
- 18 October 2023
- 12 July 2023
- 27 April 2023
- 1 February 2023
- 16 November 2022
- 25 August 2022
- 13 April 2022
- 2 February 2022
- 17 November 2021
- 22 October 2020
- 5 March 2020
- 11 December 2019
- 18 September 2019
- 27 March 2019
- 15 October 2018
- 9 July 2018
- 19 February 2018
Useful links
Further general information on the role of Pension Boards is available on the Pension Regulators website: http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/docs/quick-guide-public-service-pension-boards.pdf
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/docs/quick-guide-public-service-pension-board-members.pdf
Our Firefighters’ Pensions administrator details
Pension Board Refresher Training