Page 7 - WMPF Federation FebMar2021-Hi_Neat

Members consulted

Federation considers

outcome of pensions survey

lmost 80 per cent of members who if any payment is agreed it will be financed Scheme who joined that challenge would
responded to our pensions survey solely from West Midlands Police have any kind of legal cover for that.”
Awould like West Midlands Police Federation’s own reserves.” The working group will continue to
Federation to make some kind of The pension challenge was launched consider all issues and is aiming to report
contribution to those officers who had after the Government introduced the back with further findings at the Branch
signed up to the private pension challenge Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) Council meeting in May.
with just over 50 per cent stating the full Police Pension Scheme in 2015. “There will be a full discussion at this
fees should be paid. It has since been ruled that there was council meeting and members will be able
Nearly 20 per cent of the membership discrimination in the way the scheme was to feed in to this through their local reps,”
filled out the survey, which ran from introduced and the Government is now Jon explains, “If it is agreed in principle
mid-November to 18 December last year, considering how to remedy that that West Midlands Federation should
with a good mix of those in the private discrimination. make a contribution to its members in the
pension challenge and those who were West Midlands Police Federation’s private challenge, there will still be other
not. Branch Council discussed the outcome of factors to consider. For example, at this
“As a Federation, we were keen to find its Pensions Working Group survey at its stage it is not known what the final cost of
out members’ views so we set up a latest meeting on 27 January and also joining the challenge will be or the value of
pensions working group which then discussed the wider implications of the any compensation.”
commissioned this survey,” says Jon Nott, Government remedy. The current tribunal process in terms of
chair of West Midlands Police Federation. “There are issues around whether those the Government remedy is still ongoing
“In January, the working group met for originally in the 2006 pension scheme will and may not be completed until towards
an initial discussion of the findings and to be better off moving back into that scheme the end of this year.
consider the views of those who or staying in the 2015 scheme in the West Midlands Police Federation
responded. A total of 78 per cent of people longer term and if this would have an secretary Steve Grange has been hosting
want us to make a financial contribution to impact on the fees incurred by individuals webinars for members who want to find
members who will incur legal costs as a in the private challenge,” says Jon. out more. Please contact the Federation
result of joining private pension challenge “We are also asking questions as to office if you would like to take part in one
while just 17 per cent said we should not whether members of the Group Insurance of these webinars.
do that.
“So that is a clear outcome but there is
still some way to go before we can make a Pension update: Government will
firm decision on the best way forward and
issue remedy proposals in the spring

The Government will issue its proposals for the remedy to the discrimination found in
the implementation of the 2015 Police Pension Scheme in the spring, it has been
confirmed.
This will then be followed by a further consultation, likely to run for around three
months, on the application of the remedy and the draft regulatory changes that will be
needed.
In an update, Alex Duncan, the secretary of the Police Federation of England and
Wales (PFEW), explains: “PFEW will, having taken any necessary further legal and
actuarial advice, once again play a full role in responding and inputting to this
consultation both as part of the Scheme Advisory Board and in its individual capacity
in order to represent the interests of all its members.”
The Government proposals will be public sector wide and further details will be
announced when they are available.

06 federation February/March 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids