Browse meetings

Function:

The Cumbria LGPS Local Pension Board (‘the Board’) is responsible for assisting the Administering Authority of the Cumbria Local Government Pension Scheme to secure compliance with relevant regulations and legislation and the requirements of the Pensions Regulator in relation to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS); and to ensure the effective and efficient governance and administration of the LGPS.

The Board is constituted under the Public Service Pension Act 2013 and the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Governance) Regulations 2014 and is therefore not subject to the requirements of s.101 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Board has no remit as a decision making body but is established to assist the Administration Authority fulfil its functions which shall be deemed to cover all aspects of governance and administration of the Pension Fund.

There is a legislative requirement on Members of a Local Pension Board to develop a level of knowledge and understanding of pension matters sufficient to enable them to provide effective, constructive and informed support to the Administering Authority. The responsibility is a personal one rather than a collective one.

Membership of the Board:

It is composed of:-

·                3 employer representatives (allocated: 1 to Cumbria County Council, 1 to the District Councils, and 1 for all other employers within the Cumbria Fund); and

·                3 member (current and former employees) representatives (selected to ensure all membership groups within the Fund are covered).

Details of current members of the Board including biographical information:

Employer representatives:

·                David Edward Southward MBE (Cumbria County Council)

o      David Southward is a County Council Member for Egremont and Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Property.  David was previously a Member on the LGPS Pensions Committee for 5 years from 2011/12 to 2016/17; in addition to being appointed to a number of outside bodies such as Cumbria Tourism and Britain’s Energy Coast.

·                Giles Archibald Bsc., BA.,FFA (District Council)

o      Giles Archibald is a South Lakeland District Council Member for Kendal Town.  He served as leader of the council 2016-2021.  In his professional career he worked as an actuary at a large international pensions consultancy firm.

·                Kerry Powell (Other - Employers)

o      Kerry Powell is Director of Communications and Resources at the Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Kendal; Executive Board Member of Cumbria Tourism and Trustee of the Morecambe Bay Partnership.

Employee (member) representatives:

·                Deirdre Burnet (Pensioner)

o       Deirdre Burnet is a retired HR Specialist who previously worked in higher education and Local Government in Cumbria.

·                Karen Thomson (Deferred)

o      Karen Thomson is a Partner and Head of Payroll Services and People at Armstrong Watson LLP based in Carlisle.

·                Karen Wilson (Active)

o      Karen Wilson is Deputy Principal Finance & Corporate Services, Lakes College, West Cumbria and ICAEW Chartered Accountant, in addition to being a Board Member of Westfield Housing Association.

Agenda Papers

The agendas, minutes and reports for the meetings of the Board and dates for future meetings are available on the website (refer to the option above to ‘Browse meetings and agendas for this committee’).  Meetings are open to the press and public. Occasionally, the Board may meet in private to discuss specific confidential matters.

Register of Interests and Code of Conduct

Prior to appointment to the Board all Members are required to sign up to the Board’s Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy.  As a body representing the public interest the Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy of Members of the Local Pension Board will be aligned to those applicable to Members of the Pension Committee and are available at:Constitution - Part 4B - Members' Code of Conduct and guidance : Cumbria County Council. 

Further details of the work of the Board may be found in the Board’s Terms of Reference, reflected as the Functions of the Board which are available at: Constitution - Part 2P - Cumbria Local Pension Board : Cumbria County Council.