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  • Agenda and minutes
  • Agenda and minutes

    Venue: Committee Room 1 - Islington Town Hall

    Contact: Joel Cook  03000 416892

    Items
    No. Item

    176.

    Apologies/Substitutes

    Apologies

    Substitutes

    LA

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from Cllr Gerard Fox (East Sussex) and Cllr Karen Soons (Suffolk).

     

    177.

    Declaration of interests in items on the agenda

    Minutes:

    No declarations made.

    178.

    Minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2019 pdf icon PDF 219 KB

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED that the minutes were a correct record and that they be signed by the Chair.

     

    179.

    Meeting dates - 2020/2021

     

    Monday 15 June 2020

     

    Monday 7 September 2020

     

    Monday 7 December 2020

     

    Monday 8 March 2021

     

     

    Minutes:

    1.      Members discussed meeting date and venue selection and it was confirmed that the Clerk would liaise with all Members about future arrangements, including reviewing any already agreed dates.

     

    RESOLVED that the meeting in the published agenda be noted.

     

    180.

    Governance Update pdf icon PDF 272 KB

    Minutes:

    1.      Kevin McDonald (ASU) provided an update on the Governance workstream.  This included detailing the current status of the Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) review, clarifying that ACCESS’s Legal Advisors were working with Authority Monitoring Officers.  It was confirmed that an updated version of the IAA would be circulated to Members in due course.  The Clerk advised that all Authorities should review their internal approval mechanisms and inform the Clerk of planned processes to assist in the eventual execution of the final document as a Deed.

     

    2.      Mr McDonald outlined the review on Officer sub-groups to confirm key workstreams and areas of Officer focus.  This review work reflected the need to consider what the key issues were for ACCESS and Pooling as the landscape and ACCESS’s establishment evolved.

     

    RESOLVED that the following be noted:

     

    ·         The revised timetable for completion of phase 3 governance deliverables.

     

    ·         The revised IAA to take effect upon execution by all participating authorities and completion of this process to be confirmed in writing by the Clerk to the Committee.

     

    ·         Recent discussions on the structure of officer sub-groups.

     

    181.

    Communications pdf icon PDF 384 KB

    Minutes:

    1.      Mr McDonald introduced the item, referring Members to previous discussions regarding Communications and the adoption of the ACCESS Communications Protocol in 2018.  He advised that the issue was being reviewed in recognition of how things have changed since then, including personnel changes and the shifting Pooling landscape.

     

    2.      Members discussed options for handling Communications, in terms of pro-active stakeholder engagement and responsive communications activity.  It was noted that key objectives of the Communications Strategy needed to be outlined and clarified as part of its development.

     

    RESOLVED that the that the outline for ACCESS communications and relations and the initial planning for the ACCESS Annual Report be noted.

     

    182.

    Business plan, budget & risk summary pdf icon PDF 541 KB

    Minutes:

    1.      Mr McDonald introduced the report, providing an overview of the Business Plan and Budget, which had been agreed at the December meeting.  He commented that the Plan was subject to review and that it may have to be updated throughout the year.

     

    2.      Mr McDonald highlighted various key points in the plan and budget such as the sub-fund updates and transition arrangements, the rollout of the Governance Training at administering authority level and the full implementation and embedding of the ASU.

     

    3.      Mr McDonald confirmed to Members that the projected outturn for 2019/20 was approximately £200k below the approved budget level and explained that this was due to reduced reliance on external consultancy support following the full establishment of the ASU.

     

    RESOLVED that the updated business plan and revised outturn for 2019/20 and the summary risk register be noted.

     

    183.

    Motion to Exclude the Press and Public

    PROPOSED 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 paragraphs 3 & 5 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

     

    EXEMPT ITEMS

     

    Minutes:

    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 paragraphs 3 & 5 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

     

    184.

    Risk Register

    Minutes:

    1.      Mr McDonald provided an update on the risk register, outlining changes and additions as well as noting where risks remained unchanged and would be monitored.

     

    2.      Members discussed the risks and received relevant reassurances from Authority Officers and the ASU of appropriate risk management activity.

     

    3.      Members considered the potential for additional risks relating to the COVID-19 situation and were reassured that work was ongoing to explore options for managing normal business remotely if required.  It was recognised that any COVID-19 related market volatility risks were likely but this was mainly a matter for the administering authorities.  It was noted that without legislative change, formal ACCESS meetings could not take place remotely.

     

    RESOLVED that the report be noted and the additions to the Risk Register as set out in the report be approved.

     

    185.

    Investment update

    Minutes:

    1.      Sharon Tan (Suffolk) presented the Investment performance update.  The positive update was welcomed by Members.

     

    RESOLVED that the report be noted.

     

    186.

    Sub-fund progress

    Minutes:

    1.      Andrew Boutflower (Hampshire) provided the regular update on Sub-fund progress.  He advised the committee on the status of recent launches and highlighting where additional funds were required.

     

    RESOLVED that;

    • the asset allocations of ACCESS authorities and the progress in launching the ACS investment sub-funds and providing specific ‘transition’ sub-funds be noted.
    • the request to Link to search for a fund manager(s) for the balanced mandate (Two sub-funds:  Fixed Income and Global Equities) be approved.

     

    187.

    Contract Management update

    Minutes:

    1.      Mark Paget (ASU) provided an update on contract management, highlighting key developments and progress made. 

     

    2.      Members discussed the planned development of KPI monitoring around business as usual and noted the mitigations that had been put in place where issues had been identified.

     

    RESOLVED that the report be noted.

     

    188.

    Link presentation (to follow)

    Minutes:

    Karl Midl and James Zealander from Link Fund Solutions were present for this item.

     

     

    1.      Mr Midl and Mr Zealander delivered a presentation, outlining recent activity and key issues.  They provided reassurances that preparations were in progress to manage business continuity in the event of emergency issues related to the COVID-19 situation.

     

    2.      Members asked questions and discussed performance issues and progress with relevant sub-fund launches.

     

    RESOLVED that the presentation be noted and that a letter be sent to LINK from the Chairman, outlining the views of the Joint Committee on various matters discussed.

     

    189.

    SAB engagement

    Minutes:

    1.      Mr McDonald introduced the update on Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) engagement, with particular reference to discussions of responsible investment and fiduciary duty.

     

    RESOLVED that the report be noted.

     

    190.

    Alternatives update

    Minutes:

    1.      Mr McDonald provided an update on progress made with the Alternatives workstream.  He advised that further work was being undertaken prior to any firm recommendations being proposed for consideration by the Committee.

     

    RESOLVED that the update be noted.