Durham County Council Pension Fund - Local Pension Board

The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Governance) Regulations 2015 required all LGPS funds to put in place a Local Pension Board by 1 April 2015.

The Durham County Council Pension Fund Local Pension Board was set up with effect from 1 April 2015 and its terms of reference are set out in the following document:

• Local Pension Board - terms of reference (PDF, 122.9kb)
• Local Pension Board agendas and minutes

Role of the Local Pension Board

Durham County Council is the Administering Authority of the Durham County Council Pension Fund (part of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)), and as such is responsible for administering the Pension Fund - this includes managing the investments, collecting and investing contributions and paying scheme benefits.

The Local Pension Board's role is to assist the Administering Authority in its role as a scheme manager of the Pension Fund. Such assistance is to:

• secure compliance with the Regulations, any other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the Scheme, and requirements imposed by the Pensions Regulator in relation to the Scheme and;
• to ensure the effective and efficient governance and administration of the Scheme.

Local Pension Board Membership

The Local Pension Board is made up of three pension scheme member representatives and three employer representatives:

Scheme Member Representatives

• Neville Hancock
• Wendy Pattison
• Les Oliver

Employer Representatives

• Councillor Amanda Hopgood (Chair)
• ​Councillor David Stoker
• Current vacancy

Further information

The LGPS Advisory Board (the national board of the LGPS) has published guidance which includes more information on the role of the Local Pension Board:

• Guidance on the creation and operation of Local Pension Boards in England and Wales

The Pensions Regulator (the UK regulator of work-based pension schemes) has issued a code of practice on the Governance and administration of public service pension schemes which also includes more information on the role of Local Pension Boards:

• The Pensions Regulator: Governance and administration of public service pension schemes

This includes an explanation of the level of knowledge and understanding required by Local Pension Board members, and information on identifying and dealing with potential conflicts of interest (pages 12 to 24).

If you have a question about this role, please contact us.