Agenda item

Naomi Cooke, Head of Workforce, and Jeff Houston, Head of Pensions, then introduced Appendix B for item two. 

Naomi provided an update on apprenticeships, Brexit and settled status, and the limited updates on pay negotiations, bringing members’ attention to the relevant paragraphs in the report.  

Jeff Houston provided an update on the pension’s scheme valuation and cost cap.  Jeff brought attention to paragraph 18 of item two, Appendix B, and provided the latest verbal update for members.  

Following the two updates, members discussed the following:

Cllr Phillips, Member Lead for Pensions, discussed the agreement reached with the government re the cost cap in relation to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). He also mentioned the NHS’s long term plan, which has little emphasis on integrated workforce at this stage.  Members agreed that all government departments need to start discussions over the future ageing population issue in relation to pensions. 

Members discussed paragraph 22 in the report, and questioned if there was any progress or need for a change in the apprenticeships policy at this stage?  Naomi Cooke responded that representations were consistently being made to DfE and Cabinet Office but the government’s direction of travel at this time was moving in the opposite direction. 

Action

-       Members noted the update.