The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee met on Monday 26 January 2026 to discuss a range of pension-related matters. Key topics included updates on scheme membership, the administration of pensions, and the management of risks associated with pension schemes.

Pensions Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive update on pension matters, as detailed in the Pension Update - 26.01.26 report¹. This report provided an overview of scheme membership across various Firefighters' Pension Schemes, including the 1992, 2006, Retained Modified, and 2015 schemes. It outlined movements in active membership, such as new starters and leavers, and provided figures for pensioner and deferred members as of late 2025.

The report also included Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF), the administrator for these schemes. While many KPIs were met, the Death in Retirement and Pension Estimate categories did not meet their targets due to high workloads. The report noted that pension estimates were taking between 8 to 10 weeks to process, with a prioritisation system in place for those with retirement dates within three months.

Further details within this update covered the Age Discrimination Remedy, specifically the delayed production of Deferred Benefit Statements (DBS-RSS), which led to a breach notification to The Pensions Regulator (TPR). It also addressed the Matthews Remedy, including updates on the GAD Calculator and project implementation data, and the ongoing process for retained firefighters. Changes to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) Regulations regarding member contribution structures were also outlined, detailing a shift from a four-tier to a five-tier system based on actual pensionable earnings, effective from April 2026. Information on upcoming Local Pension Board training sessions was also provided.

Update from Administrator (WYPF)

The meeting received an update from the West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF), as presented in the Durham Darlington FA Dec 2025 report². This update covered completed processes for November 2025, with a focus on Key Performance Indicators. It highlighted that while most processes met their targets, Death in Retirement and Pension Estimate categories experienced delays due to high volumes of work.

Work in progress included updates on the Matthews Remedy, with payments being processed and staff recruitment underway. A client meeting was scheduled for January 2026 to discuss the Matthews Remedy. The report also noted the publication of the consultation response for amendments to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme for Retained Firefighters and the FPS Bulletin 99. It addressed concerns regarding manual cases for the Matthews Remedy, encouraging Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) to manage communications to avoid direct contact with the Government Actuary's Department (GAD). The Scheme Return 2025 was submitted to TPR, and reporting on Remedial Service Statements (RSS) was temporarily unavailable due to a system migration.

Communication and training updates included ongoing webinars on the introduction of MC3 and changes to the Leaver Notification, as well as member induction and pre-retirement sessions. A calendar of events and other meetings attended by the administration team was also provided. An IT update discussed the approach to preparing for Pensions Dashboards, particularly in cases where value data is unavailable. The Five Year Audit Plan for WYPF was also presented, outlining planned audits for various aspects of pension administration and investment management. Finally, the report detailed disclosure time limits and any breaches, with no breaches noted for divorce time limits.

Risk Register

The Pension Board Risk Register - 26.01.26 report³ was presented, detailing identified risks and their mitigation strategies. Key risks included the loss of physical information relating to members, breaches of GDPR regulations due to incomplete or inaccurate data, and failures in pension administration leading to poor service provision. Other risks covered were the inappropriate allocation of pension funds due to fraud, and the failure to correctly apply scheme or tax rules. The register also highlighted risks associated with the Sergeant and Matthews remedies, and the implementation of Pensions Dashboards. For each risk, the report outlined the likelihood, impact, and residual score, along with responsible persons and review dates.

Correspondence Log and Action Log

The meeting reviewed the Correspondence Log ⁴ and Correspondence Action Log ⁵. The correspondence log detailed communications received between September 2025 and January 2026, covering a range of topics including FPS Bulletins, updates on the Matthews Remedy, guidance on unauthorised payments, and information on the Firefighters' Pension Scheme levy. The action log indicated the status of various correspondence items, with one item concerning a TPR factsheet from 2021 noted as ongoing.

Ill Health Retirements/Injury Awards and Internal Disputes

Information was scheduled to be presented regarding ill health retirements and injury awards, as well as internal disputes. This would have provided an update on cases progressed through the IQMP process and any submitted Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures (IDRPs).