Lewisham Council establishes new LGPS Senior Officer role
Lewisham Council has appointed a new LGPS Senior Officer to oversee the management of its pension fund, a move mandated by new statutory guidance aimed at enhancing governance and accountability within the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
The new role, created in response to updated LGPS fund governance and asset pooling guidance issued in June 2026, will be responsible for the overall management of the pension fund's administration, investments, funding, governance, and communications. This includes ensuring the fund is appropriately resourced, has relevant strategies and policies, implements them, and maintains robust governance and risk management.
This appointment is a key requirement of the new guidance, which aims to ensure clear accountability across all aspects of the pension fund's operations. The LGPS Senior Officer must be a senior official, separate from the Section 151 Officer, and their appointment is made by the Chief Executive Officer. The role requires appropriate knowledge, skills, and capacity to fulfill statutory responsibilities.
Lewisham Council is currently in the process of appointing its LGPS Senior Officer, with the process well underway and a deadline of December 31, 2026, to finalise the appointment. The decision will be reported back to the committee.
The new guidance also introduces a mandatory Independent Person role. This individual will provide independent expertise, challenge, and scrutiny to pension committees and senior officers. Lewisham Council is considering whether to advertise for this role or procure it from a pension advisory firm, with an appointment also required by December 31, 2026. The Independent Person will support the committee and the LGPS Senior Officer, and the Pension Board also provides oversight.
These changes are part of a broader reform of LGPS governance, which also includes revised terms of reference for the Pensions Committee and Pension Board to align with the new framework. The committee's name has been changed from Pensions Investment Committee to Pensions Committee to reflect its wider responsibilities. The revised terms of reference for the Pensions Committee now formally recognise the LGPS Senior Officer role, update legislative references, and explicitly include fiduciary duty, overseeing administration, maintaining key fund strategies, adopting a Training Strategy, overseeing Independent Governance Reviews, and ensuring compliance with legislation. The responsibility for appointing fund managers has been removed as this function now lies with the pool. The Pension Board's updated terms of reference reflect new LGPS legislation and statutory guidance, clarifying its role in oversight, support, and challenge to ensure regulatory compliance and effective governance.
The Pensions Committee met on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to discuss these changes and other updates regarding the fund's administration, investments, and responsible investment policies. The committee approved the draft Pension Fund Annual Report for publication by the statutory deadline of December 1, 2026. The new guidance mandates enhanced governance, transparency, and accountability, with anticipated benefits including improved oversight and decision-making. Potential challenges include ensuring appropriate resourcing and skills for the new roles and meeting tight appointment deadlines. The meeting also discussed the complexities of aligning responsible investment policies within a pooled structure and the potential for increased reliance on the pool for investment advice.
Public reports pack 15th-Oct-2026 Minutes Public Pack 11062026 Agenda frontsheet 15th-Oct-2026