Issue - meetings

That the Committee:

(a)          Delegate to officers agreement of any subsequent changes which are not fundamental to the intention of the Memorandum of Understanding; and

(b)          In relation to para 11 of Memorandum of Understanding appoint Councillor Alan Diskin as the Clwyd Pension Fund member representation and Councillor Haydn Bateman a substitute on the Joint Chairs Group of the Wales Pool. 

Debbie Fielder, Pensions Finance Manager, gave a verbal update, referring to the email sent to Committee members by the Clwyd Pension Fund Manager, Philip Latham, on 23^rd September 2016 relating to the Wales Pool Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Joint Chairs Group. The Chair presented a motion to agree consideration of the recommendations as contained in that email which were:

(i)            Discuss the contents of the email and attachment

(ii)          Advise of any changes you would like

(iii)         Delegate to officers agreement of any subsequent changes which are not fundamental to the intention of the Memorandum of Understanding  

(iv)         In relation to para 11 of Memorandum of Understanding agree the member to be appointed as our representation and a substitute. 

This was formally moved by Councillor Haydn Bateman and seconded by Councillor Steve Wilson. 

Steve Hibbert drew attention to Item 10, stating costs were to be recovered on an equal basis irrelevant of the net asset value. Mr Hibbert also suggested that the Chair be on a rota basis.

The Chief Executive stated that normally with All Wales arrangements costs are proportionate. He noted a rotating chair can often not be productive.  The Chief Executive also highlighted the need for strong leadership. Karen McWilliam agreed and suggested that an independent chair may assist.  She noted that the MoU was purely for the Joint Chairs Group and was therefore just of a temporary nature and there would be an opportunity to feed into the formal permanent MoU or equivalent.

Mr Hibbert raised that accepting the temporary and fluid situation can become permanent so queries should be raised sooner rather than later.

Mrs Fielder updated the Committee on the procurement process for the Wales Pool Operator. She confirmed that Clwyd was asked by the Welsh Authorities to lead on Operator procurement. They had received a good number of expressions of interest and two engagement days had been held with potential providers presenting to assist the authorities in developing the specification. The plan is to commence the procurement process in the first week in November.

Mrs Fielder went on to explain that no letter to proceed had yet been received from DCLG/HMT but this was expected during the 1^st week of October. She confirmed she would email the Committee members as soon as a response was received.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

(a)          Delegate to officers agreement of any subsequent changes which are not fundamental to the intention of the Memorandum of Understanding; and

(b)          In relation to para 11 of Memorandum of Understanding appoint Councillor Alan Diskin as the Clwyd Pension Fund member representation and Councillor Haydn Bateman a substitute on the Joint Chairs Group of the Wales Pool.