Playing the Blame Game - LGPS Bulletin

by Alistair Russell-Smith   •  
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Many charities participating in local government pension schemes (‘LGPS’) have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of recognition of the issues they face by the schemes they participate in and, indeed, from Department of Communities and Local Government (‘DCLG’) who oversee them. The issues are not new but there remains an element of denial and finger pointing, and it’s very easy to see how charities could be understandably frustrated. I often experience a feeling amongst charitable admitted bodies that Councils and LGPS encouraged them to join Funds, without ensuring independent advice was sought or providing any risk warnings about the step they were taking, and have now just abandoned them to their fate. Whilst, to a great extent, the problem has been capped over recent years as admission to Funds has become much more rigorous, this unfortunately does nothing for all those employers admitted before that stable door was closed. For those employers, LGPS have sat on their hands allowing organisations to continue to accrue liabilities even when they clearly couldn't afford to do so, and without providing the flexibility to address the issue. Many charities I’m aware of have approached LGPS over many years looking to stop accrual, and arrange a payment plan and were just provided with pay up or keep participating as options. Now, as funding positions have deteriorated and funding costs have increased these same schemes are pointing fingers at these same trapped charities for their inability to be able to continue to participate. For many charities there is also a growing recognition that Councils have adeptly transferred historic past service liabilities in £millions to them, due to LGPS inability to segregate service between employers and without making employers aware of the impact. This has been hugely expensive for charities and DCLG and LGPS continue to try to ignore this issue and sweep it under the carpet. Indeed, LGPS continue to do this with unsuspecting Academies being a prime example. A limited number of Funds and Local Authorities have sought to deal with the issues however, the response has been at best patchy and has lacked any level of standardised practice. Indeed these ore enlightened approaches attract a “nothing to do with me” response when raised with pension managers from Funds not employing them and for many admitted bodies they are completely unaware of the alternative options explored and implemented elsewhere. A lack of consistency of approach also means that each exercise needs to be looked at on an individual basis, adding complexity and professional adviser costs when helping charities through the maze. The Shadow Scheme Advisory Board (SSAB), which was established to encourage best practice, increase transparency and coordinate technical and standards issues for LGPS as well as providing recommendations to Government for future regulation commissioned a report from PWC as part of its deficit management project kicked off in summer 2014. The report was published in July 2015 and the key recommendations which will be of specific interest for admitted bodies are:

  • More flexibility on when exit debts are triggered. The proposals suggest that debts would not be automatically triggered by the exit of the last member. The paper recognises that some minor changes to regulation will be required.
  • Establishing a maximum level of prudence when calculating exit payments. Currently Schemes tend to use a gilts basis to calculate the exit cost despite schemes not investing assets in this way. This effectively means that employers paying a cessation debt are cross funding other employers who remain. This is recognised as inequitable and is also a discouraging factor for charities wishing to look at an exit. This proposal would effectively reduce cessation debts for those looking to exit the Scheme, for many to a point which may be affordable.
  • Flexible exit arrangements. These could include continuing to pay contributions on an on-going basis for a prescribed period and for employers to pay their cessation debts over a much longer period. This would be extremely welcome flexibility for many small employers and is a more consistent approach with that adopted in the private sector.
  • Employer exit on weaker terms. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, it could be in the interests of the Fund, the remaining employers and the admitted body to allow them to exit on weaker terms and small charities are cited specifically as an example.

These items certainly reflect much of the commentary supplied by charity representative bodies, charity advisers and charities themselves although at this stage they haven’t fully addressed issues around the transition of prior local government liabilities to charities but it is hugely helpful to charities’ positions and it has been a welcome addition to the debate, especially given that it comes from such a reputable source. Unfortunately however, it has disappeared in to something of a black hole, possibly overtaken by other more pressing global events. The proposals however need to be addressed by the SSAB and implemented by Government and LGPS as quickly as possible. The issues faced have been created by local government, LGPS and the admitted bodies and there needs to be a commitment to co-operatively finding solutions, and a desire to do it soon. Charities need to be vocal with their Funds and local authorities about the issues they face and get them to look to address them positively. Charities should also be working collectively and in conjunction with their representative bodies to make sure their voices are heard.

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