Agenda and minutes

To note that, in order to comply with the political proportionality on Committees as agreed at County Council on 25 May 2017, the Labour Group have given up their seat on this Committee.

It was noted that, in order to comply with the political proportionality on Committees as agreed at County Council on 25 May 2017, the Labour Group had given up their seat on this Committee.

Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr P Clokie, Mr P C Cooper, Mr D S Daley and Mrs M Wiggins.

There were no substitutes.

None

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2017 are correctly recorded, subject to Cllr J Burden being removed from the list of members present, and that they be signed by the Chairman.

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

EXEMPT ITEMS

(During these items the meeting is likely NOT to be open to the press and public)

RESOLVED that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

(1)          The Chairman welcomed Ms Noffke and Mr Day to the meeting. He invited them to present their report and to focus on the UK equities mandate that they managed for the Kent County Council Superannuation Fund. They responded to questions of detail from Members on the performance of the Kent Fund investments.

(2)          RESOLVED that the presentation and the responses to the Committee’s questions be noted.

(Ms Noffke and Mr Day left the meeting)

(1)          Mr Vickers introduced a report which reviewed the Fund’s Investment Strategy including current asset allocation.

(2)          In relation to the brief for the investment strategy consultant Mr Vickers undertook to include reference to the potential consultant’s views on future volatility and also request examples of the results that their advice had produced for their clients.

(3)          In relation to the potential re-investment of £200m in the Pyrford Fund, Mr Vickers undertook to seek a fee reduction.

(4)       RESOLVED that:

(a)  the current allocation to global equities be reduced by £200m and that £200m be withdrawn from the Ballie Gifford mandate and re-invested in the Pyrford Absolute Return Fund.

(b).a review of investment strategy be commissioned and responsibility for selecting the consultant be delegated to the Corporate Director of Finance in consultation with the Chairman.

(Cllr Eden-Green took no part in the debate relating to State Street in accordance with his previously declared interest).

Mr P Bartlett left the meeting at the conclusion of  this item.

(1)          Mr Vickers introduced a report which set out the issues relating to the future provision of the pensions administration software and informed the Committee of the decision on the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) Reconciliation procurement.

(2)       RESOLVED that the Committee agree to the calling off from the Northumberland County Council framework and the outcome of the GMP reconciliation procurement be noted.

Meeting open to the Press and Public

(1)          Mrs Mings presented the Report & Accounts of the Superannuation Fund for 2016/17, which had been approved by the Governance and Audit Committee, and the External Audit Findings Report. 

(2)          RESOLVED that

(a)  the Superannuation Fund Annual Report be approved

(b)  the content of the Accounts for 2016/17 and the Fund policies be noted

(c)  the Report and Accounts be published to the Kent Pension Fund website

(d)  the external auditor’s Audit Findings Report be noted, and

(e)  the approval of the  Accounts by the Governance and Audit Committee on 19 July 2017 be noted. 

(1)          Mr Vickers introduced a report which provided a summary of the Fund’s asset allocation and performance, including the fund position statement for the quarter to 30 June 2017 and the longer term investment returns.

(2)          RESOLVED that the report be noted

(1)          Mrs Mings introduced a report which updated the Committee on the Fund’s cash position as at August 2017.

(2)          RESOLVED that the current cash position be noted and agreed that the Fund’s cash may also be invested in Cashplus / Short term bond funds.

(1)          Mr Vickers and Mrs Mings introduced a report to update the Committee on progress on Pooling.  The report included information on the ACCESS Joint Committee, Communications with the DCLG, passive investment management procurement, investment manager rationalisation and the operator procurement.

(2)          Officers undertook to provide a further update to the Committee at their next meeting and to keep members informed of progress as necessary between meetings.

(3)          RESOLVED that:

a)    the report be noted,

b)    the Corporate Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chairman of the Superannuation Fund Committee, be delegated authority to approve the contract with the CIV Operator.

c)    once the contract for the Operator has been prepared the Kent County Council seal be affixed to the legal documents.

(1).         Mrs Mings presented a report outlining the impact of MiFID II and in particular the risk to KCC of becoming a retail client on 3^rd January 2018.

(2).         Mrs Mings explained that, if the Committee agreed to apply for elective professional investor status under MiFID II regulations, it would be essential that information on relevant skills, experience and expertise was obtained from each member of the Committee.  There would be a very short timescale for obtaining this information.

(1).     RESOLVED that:

a)        the potential impact on investment strategy of becoming a retail client with effect from 3^rd January 2018 be noted.

b)        the immediate commencement of applications for elected professional client status be agreed with all relevant institutions in order to ensure KCC can continue to implement an effective investment strategy.

c)         the Committee forgoes the protections available to retail clients 

d)        authority be delegated to the Treasury and Investments Manager to complete the applications for elected professional client status.

e)        the Chairman sign the minutes relating to the above recommendations at the end of today’s meeting.

(1).         Officers introduced a report on employer related matters and applications from organisations to become admitted bodies within the Superannuation Fund.

(2).     RESOLVED that the employers report be noted and that:

a)        Solo Service Group Ltd be admitted to the Kent County Council Superannuation Fund;

b)        Pabulum Ltd be admitted to the Kent County Council Superannuation Fund;

c)         the Chairman sign the minutes relating to recommendations (a) to (b) at the end of today’s meeting; and

d)        once legal agreements have been prepared for these matters the Kent County Council seal can be affixed to the legal documents.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Friday 17 November 2017

at 10.00am

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Friday 17 November 2017 at 10.00am.