Havering Council is actively preparing for significant changes to its pension scheme, including amendments to the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) and the reinstatement of access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for councillors and mayors. These changes are in line with the Finance Act 2022. Previously, elected members were eligible to join the LGPS in England until 31 March 2014. These preparations were discussed at the Local Pension Board meeting on 16 December 2025, where members reviewed feedback from the Pensions Committee meetings held on 11 November 2025 and 09 December 2025. Key items discussed at the Pensions Committee meetings included the Draft Funding Strategy Statement (FSS), Investment Consultant Objectives, Review of Custodian and Performance Monitoring Service, Review of Actuarial Service, Annual Report and compliance checklist, Risk Register, Governance Compliance Statement, Valuation – Whole Fund Results, 2025 Q3 Performance Monitoring, Task Force for Climate Related Disclosure Report, and Fit for the Future – Preparations.

The board received an update on recent developments within the LGPS regulatory environment, including a consultation launched by the MHCLG on 13 October 2025, which closes on 22 December 2025. The consultation covers proposals to:

  • Amend the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) from 55 to 57 from 6 April 2028, excluding ill health retirement.
  • Reinstate access to the LGPS in England for councillors and mayors.
  • Simplify the process for multi-academy trusts to apply for their staff from different schools geographically to be administered in a single pension fund. At present this can only be achieved through an application for a direction from the Secretary of State and the proposal is broadly looking to remove this.
  • Implement new Fair Deal protections ensuring transferred employees retain access to the LGPS. This proposal takes into consideration responses to the previous consultation held in 2019 with the aim of employees being able to maintain the security offered by the LGPS and enabling employers to obtain better value from outsourced service contracts.

LPPA held a round table discussion and shared their collective draft response, which will be submitted on behalf of all their clients once finalised.

The Public Reports Pack contains full details of all reports considered at the meeting.