Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service Local Pension Board - 21 October 2025

The meeting began with a declaration that no members had any interests to declare. A motion was put forward by Anthony Bartlett and seconded by Stephen Miles, resolving that the minutes of the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service Local Pension Board meeting held on 24 July 2025 were correctly recorded and would be signed by the Chairman.

The Pension Benefits Manager presented the Business Update report and its appendices. Among the points raised was a request from the Local Government Association for contingent‑decision data to estimate how many firefighters had opted out of the pension scheme and might wish to re‑join. The board explained that this data, and the reasons for opt‑outs, were not stored in the Oracle system and therefore could not be supplied. It was noted that future data collection would be reviewed to avoid similar gaps and that contingent‑decision claims would be handled on an individual basis.

The manager also highlighted an increase in claims proceeding through the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure and a rise in complaints, which is placing additional pressure on resources. The board agreed that these matters would be logged and included in the risk register for future consideration. Software problems and a lack of historical data have prevented the issuance of many Annual Benefit Statements affected by the McCloud, Matthews, or secondary assignments, a situation that has been reported to the Pensions Regulator. Affected firefighters will be contacted as soon as accurate timelines are available.

Engagement with local Members of Parliament and Cornwall councillors was discussed, particularly concerning the Matthews Second Options exercise. Officers from the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service have responded to enquiries and complaints about delays in processing those options. Response times are said to depend on issue complexity and resource availability, and national updates indicate that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are performing favourably compared with many other fire and rescue authorities. The board noted that a new dashboard will primarily serve individuals seeking lost pensions, while current scheme members will gain real‑time access to detailed information through the Cornwall Pension Fund self‑service system and will continue to receive their Annual Benefit Statements.

Finally, a motion moved by Deborah Goodreid and seconded by Anthony Bartlett was resolved, stating that the board members acknowledge the update provided in the Business Update report and may seek any clarifications or further assurances from officers as required.