Issue - meetings

Through the implementation of Pay and Reward, BCP Council has further enhanced the employee benefits package.

This report sets out the option for colleagues to access Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions in addition to their normal LGPS pension. These are paid via salary sacrifice arrangement.

RESOLVED that the changes to the Pensions Discretion Policy relating to Regulation 17 & 15(2A) [TP] as set out on Page 7 of the Policy be approved.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transformation, Resources and Governance

Reason

LGPS discretions are the Council’s agreed choices on how certain pension rules are applied, so decisions are fair, consistent, and lawful.

We must have a written policy so that:

·      Everyone is treated consistently

·      Decisions are fair, lawful, and transparent

·      Managers and officers don’t make ad-hoc or contradictory decisions

·      Employees know what the Council will and won’t do

The policy sets out:

·      What discretion applies

·      What the Council’s position is

·      Who makes the decision

·      Any limits or conditions

What’s changed/changing

1. Section: Regulation 17 & 15(2A) [TP] – Shared-Cost AVCs (SCAVC) as set out on Page 7 of the policy (Appendix 1).

Effective from 1 December 2025:

The Council will pay shared-cost additional voluntary contributions (SCAVCs) where an employee has elected to pay AVCs via the Council’s salary sacrifice AVC scheme.

·      The amount of the employer SCAVC will not exceed the amount of salary sacrificed by the employee.

• Participation is subject to the employee meeting the scheme’s eligibility conditions.

The Council may withdraw or amend the SCAVC arrangement at any time, following appropriate consultation and notice.

The Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Resources and Governance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that through the implementation of Pay and Reward, BCP Council has further enhanced the employee benefits package, and that the report set out the option for colleagues to access Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions in addition to their normal LGPS pension which would be paid via salary sacrifice arrangement.

RESOLVED that the changes to the Pensions Discretion Policy relating to Regulation 17 & 15(2A) [TP] as set out on Page 7 of the Policy be approved.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transformation, Resources and Governance

Reason

LGPS discretions are the Council’s agreed choices on how certain pension rules are applied, so decisions are fair, consistent, and lawful.

We must have a written policy so that:

·      Everyone is treated consistently

·      Decisions are fair, lawful, and transparent

·      Managers and officers don’t make ad-hoc or contradictory decisions

·      Employees know what the Council will and won’t do

The policy sets out:

·      What discretion applies

·      What the Council’s position is

·      Who makes the decision

·      Any limits or conditions

What’s changed/changing

1. Section: Regulation 17 & 15(2A) [TP] – Shared-Cost AVCs (SCAVC) as set out on Page 7 of the policy (Appendix 1).

Effective from 1 December 2025:

The Council will pay shared-cost additional voluntary contributions (SCAVCs) where an employee has elected to pay AVCs via the Council’s salary sacrifice AVC scheme.

·      The amount of the employer SCAVC will not exceed the amount of salary sacrificed by the employee.

• Participation is subject to the employee meeting the scheme’s eligibility conditions.

The Council may withdraw or amend the SCAVC arrangement at any time, following appropriate consultation and notice.