Agenda item

The Chair invited Naomi Cooke, Head of Workforce, to introduce the item.  Naomi stated that the report highlights the key workforce updates that have taken place since the last Board meeting.  Naomi briefly mentioned that yesterday (21 November 2018) discussions over teachers’ pay for the next financial year (2019/2020) had been launched. 

The Chair then invited Jeff Houston, Head of Pensions, to update members on the LGA’s work relating to pensions:

-       Jeff confirmed that for  teacher’s pensions employer contributions will be going up by 7 per cent which will be funded in 2019 by DfE.

-       Jeff made reference to the Cost Cap review of public service schemes.

-       Jeff discussed the Local Government Pension Scheme – for which contributions are set by a local funding valuations.  Jeff stated that a review of this is taking place after March 2019, with new rates being implemented in April 2020.

Cllr Philips, Pensions lead for the Resources Board, then gave fellow members a brief update:

-       Cllr Phillips stated that the funding from DfE  is good news for the local government sector, although stated that the sector had hoped for a better outcome for teachers and fire and rescue services. 

-       Cllr Phillips stated that the funding of teachers pensions beyond 2019 needs to be addressed in the Spending Review. 

-       Cllr Phillips thanked officers for their hard work on this. 

The Chair invited members to comment: 

-       Members were concerned about the impact on small academies, and stated that there should be a level playing field with other schools.

Action

-       Members noted the update.