The Surrey Local Firefighters' Pension Board met on Thursday 16 April 2026 to discuss various updates on scheme management, review the action tracker, and consider the risk register. Key decisions included closing several items on the action tracker and proposing the closure of certain risks on the risk register.

Action Tracker Updates

The board reviewed the action tracker, with several items being proposed for closure. Action A120, related to the scheme manager's report, was agreed to be closed and continue to be covered in future reports. Similarly, action A124, concerning the immediate choice service statement, was also agreed for closure. A query was raised regarding action A1725, concerning XPS providing a response on the position of GMP, which was identified as a potential duplication of A2020. It was agreed to combine these actions. An update was provided on the wider GMP exercise across blue light clients, with a proposal drafted by the projects team and currently undergoing external review. A more detailed update is expected at the next board meeting.

Scheme Management Update Report

The scheme manager's report provided updates on several key areas. The annual benefits statement (ABS) process has seen the majority of statements issued, with outstanding matters likely to be captured in this year's reports. The transition to the Aurora administration platform has impacted the functionality for producing ABS and RSS statements, with these now considered day two developments. A standalone calculator has been developed for RSS statements, with testing underway and issuance expected to begin this month. For the 2026 programme, outstanding ABS and RSS statements will be incorporated.

Pension contributions have been resolved, with overpayments now rectified in the payroll system. Regarding internal dispute resolution procedure (IDRP) claims, one claim is currently awaiting a response from the individual.

Consultation responses regarding the contribution structure, which aims to align the firefighters' pension scheme with other public sector schemes, have been received and implemented from the first of this month. This includes an additional contribution band, which is expected to encourage scheme membership, although some higher earners will see an increase in their contributions. These changes will be reflected in April payslips.

Amendments to the Firefighters Pension Scheme and Retained Firefighters are being formalised through a statutory instrument laid on 1 April, with a 12-month implementation period until 31 March 2027. The GAD calculation is expected in June, which may delay implementation.

Updates were provided on the Matthews and on-call settlements, with Surrey noted as being ahead of other services in this area. The 10% allowance work is progressing, with reassessments of members underway, though challenges remain due to interactions with the Matthews and McLeod processes. A timeline for the completion of this work is being developed.

The governance review of payroll has been completed, with payments now being processed correctly. An informal consultation on the LGA review of the firefighters' compensation scheme has closed, and the team has fed into this process.

Pension clinics and station visits continue to be well-received, with positive feedback. The possibility of conducting station visits is being explored to further reach local stations.

The Code of Practice compliance report is ongoing, with identified areas being addressed. The dashboards, which went live in October, are on track for their next stage of development, with public accessibility planned for October this year.

Communications efforts include Affinity Connect sessions for retirement courses, the introduction of my pension, and updates on the new LGA member FPS website. Website traffic is increasing, with the homepage, XPS administration, and FAQ sections being the most popular.

Training and development activities include scheme manager training in September and pre-retirement courses, with plans to enhance the pre-retirement package to include a wellness aspect.

Risk Register

The risk register has been updated to align with the service's register. Several risks have been proposed for closure, including those related to Annual Benefits Statements (ABS) and McLeod, due to their resolution or mitigation. Risks concerning data management, team skills and resourcing, and payroll software remain in the amber category, with ongoing work to address them. A new risk concerning affected on-call staff not repaying pension contributions has been added and is considered a green risk. The board noted the updated risk register and the removal of several risks, indicating positive progress.

Fire Bulletins

The board noted the most recent fire bulletins, with no specific recommendations arising from them, as the items were covered within the scheme manager's report.

Exclusion of the Public

The board resolved to exclude the public from the meeting for subsequent agenda items, citing the likely disclosure of exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972.