The Pensions Committee and Board of Haringey Council was scheduled to discuss the council's Responsible Investment Policy and the Pension Fund's annual accounts for 2024/25. The meeting was also set to review updates on the Fit for the Future programme and the draft Investment Strategy Statement, though these items were designated as exempt from public view.

Responsible Investment Policy

The committee was scheduled to consider the finalised draft of the Responsible Investment Policy. This policy aims to ensure the fund's investments align with best practices, regulatory requirements, and the long-term interests of its members and stakeholders. The policy integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decision-making. The report pack indicated that the draft policy had been developed following an extensive review of the pension fund's investments and underlying holdings, including modelling to assess ESG risk exposure. The policy outlines the fund's investment beliefs, governance structure, stewardship approach, and engagement framework, with a planned go-live date of 1 April 2026. The committee was recommended to note and comment on the draft policy and approve its issuance for consultation with stakeholders.

Pension Fund Accounts 2024/25

The committee was due to consider the statutory Annual Report from KPMG, the external auditors, detailing their findings from the audit of the Pension Fund's statutory accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025. The report pack highlighted that KPMG's findings included a control deficiency regarding the segregation of duties for posting and reviewing journals, and a recommendation that the disclosure of interests by Pension Committee members should comply with the applicable financial reporting framework rather than just pension regulations. The committee was recommended to consider the report, note the statement of accounts would be presented to the Audit Committee, and delegate the sign-off of the accounts to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Chair, subject to final audit changes.

Exempt Items

Several items were scheduled for discussion but were designated as exempt from public access due to containing confidential information. These included an update on the Fit for the Future programme, the draft Investment Strategy Statement, and exempt minutes from a previous meeting. These items were likely to contain details relating to the financial or business affairs of individuals or the authority, or information subject to legal professional privilege.