The Newham Pension Fund is actively preparing for significant legislative changes set to reshape the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The Newham Pensions Board convened on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to discuss the impending overhaul, which includes substantial government consultations and regulatory updates. The implementation of these changes is expected to be staged, with initial regulations laid in early March 2026, and the first stage coming into effect from April 2026, followed by a second stage later in the year.

Individuals in a meeting
Two individuals engaged in a discussion during a meeting.

Key among the upcoming changes are reforms stemming from the LGPS: Access and Fairness consultation, which aims to equalize survivor benefits and alter death grant rules. This consultation seeks to remove inconsistencies in how survivor pensions are calculated based on sex or sexual orientation, potentially increasing survivor pensions where unfair treatment occurred. The LGPS: Access and Protections (Scheme Improvements) consultation proposes raising the normal minimum pension age to 57, a change expected to take effect from April 2028. It also aims to reinstate LGPS access for councillors and mayors, with elected members, including mayors and councillors in England and all London Assembly members, set to gain access from 11 May 2026.

A technical consultation, Fit for the Future, is also underway, focusing on governance and administration enhancements. Many of these proposed changes are expected to come into effect from April 2026, with implementation required from October 2026. This includes the introduction of a statutory LGPS officer role, which cannot be held by someone in another statutory position, such as a Section 151 Officer. The primary purpose of this role is to ensure the scheme has appropriate governance and resources for effective fund administration and investment.

Gantt chart illustrating project timelines
Gantt chart illustrating the timeline for various pension-related tasks and projects.

The Newham Pensions Board's discussions are detailed in the public reports pack, available at Public reports pack 24th-Mar-2026 18.00 Newham Pensions Board. Further information on administration performance can be found in the Administration Performance Update March 2026 and legislative updates in the Pension Administration and Legislative Update Board March 2026.