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University of St.andrews Support Staff Pension Fund
The fund came into existence on 1st August, 1964
Trustees Peter Cabrelli, Convener (2012); Mairi Stewart (Court); Reg Gavine* (2012) Iain McDevitt* (2015); Moira McHugh* (2016); Prof Ron Piper (Court); Bill Blyth [Retired trustee ] (2012) and Derek Watson (Court).
Past Staff Trustees Bill Blyth {Technical Constituency} (1972-2007) Gordon Dickson {Manual Constituency} (2005-06) Ian McLaren {Retired Constituency} (2002-05)
Past Convenor's Gordon Curruthers; Alastair McIntyre
Secretary to the Trustees Lisa Harley from 2005
*member nominated trustee and their date for re-election.
The Board of trustees meet again on 26th January, 2012
The Board of trustees met on 4th October, 2011 in Edinburgh as guests of Baillie Gifford one of our investment managers. A meeting with the new advisers Aon Hewitt went extremely well and the transfer to them from Towers Watson was proceeding well. It is a long process and seems likley to end around April/May by which time the data will all have been verified and checked. In the meantime the monthly payment to pensioners will continue to be paid by Towers Watson with Aon Hewitt taking this over in April 2012. The fund has been hit with yet another recession but hopefully some solutions will be found to put the world back on course once again.
The sub-committee met on 22nd August to interview the 4 applicants who wish to become the next advisers to the Trustees.
The Board of trustees met again on 20th June, 2011 It was agreed to proceed with a review of the trusts advisers and to this extent a meeting took place on 19th July to draw up a shortlist and arrangements put in hand for the 4 chosen to attend interviews on 22nd August. Lazrds one of our three investment managers attended to explain why their fund is currently under performing. They advised their current situation of under performance would likely continue for approx another 18 months. Whilst this is not good news their performance up to this current problem had been excellent, so the trustees expressed their concenrn and agreed to keep the situation under review as both the other funds particularly Baillie Gifford continued to out perform.
The Board of trustees met on 31st January, 2011 The increase in the retired members pension from 1st April, 2011 will be 4.6% with the exception of that pension earned since 1st April 2006 to retiral which will be the max of 2.5% Baillie Gifford atteneded and in general both their funds with them are out performaing The annual review to staff and retired members was finalised ready to be sent out in early February. Whilst the fund in the report shows a deficit of £26M at the time of this meeting it was estimated to be around £18M showing the trustees recovery plan to be progressing
The Board of trustees met on 10th October, 2010 The continued discussions on the USS scheme details of which were to be circulated to all the academic staff at the start of a 3 months consultation period. It did seem obvious if the USS did give in to the academic unions proposals the liklihood of further finanical reviews would seem inevitable given the deficit was very large. On the Consumer Price Index [CPI] is lower than the RPI the fund is still commiteed to make payments to it retired members on the RPI figure and the Final Salary is still in place. The Schreodor's manager attended to give the trustees the latest update and how they see the next two/three years unfolding. A long running case for a member who had died after leaving the university seemed likely to be resolved shortly. It was reported that Iain McDevitt has been elected unoppesed to serve until July, 2015.
The Board of trusttes met on 18th June, 2010 There are no in place conflicts of interest that ALL the trustees must declare and update. All the admin of our Scheme has been transfered to Leeds and whilst there have been a few problems most should be dealt with in the near future. The review of the academic scheme was underway and it was clear there were differences between the USS and the academic trade union UCU. Whilst we are still in deficit the overall funding level had increased from c62% to c72% The covenant which is a way of protecting the funds remains strong.
Board of trustees will met on 15th February, 2010 The appeals process to remian a 2 stage process but reduced fromn 6 to 3 months Trustees to declare any conflicts of interest Issue of an Independant Trustee put on hold
January, 2010 - Announced that Watson & Wyatt had joined up with Tower Perrins to form a new partnership to be called Towers Watson
Board of trustees special meeting took place 2nd December It was agreed a sub-committee consisitng of Derek; Peter and Reg would attend a meeting on 18th January, 2010 in Edinburgh with Watson & Wyatt to discuss the options following the result of the 3 year review indicating there was now a larger deficit than in 2006.
Board of trustees met on 30th September, 2009 There was nothing major to report other than the triennial review is awaited and a special meeting was arranged for December to look at the outline. The universities had increased their contribution into the USS fund for academic staff by 2% raising the employer's contribution to 16%
Board of trustees met again on 13th May, 2009 Deputy Convenor, Professor Ron Piper was appointed to this new post. The full acturial review is due on 31st July, 2009. The trustees noted the empolyers covenant was still strong but agreed to keep it under review. It was agreed as part of the trustee training programme all trustess needed some background training on the Scheme Rules.
Board of trustees met again on 10th February, 2009 Th current investments are still being badly effected like all other pension funds and it was felt necessary to look at our commitment to Baillie Gifford following their presentation and the investments sub-committee was ask to look at other alternatives. Watson Wyatt introduced their OneMeeting project which will in the future allow the trustees to see all the past and current paperwork on-line.
Board of Trustees met on 1st October, 2008 As part of the ongoing training of Trustee all had been asked to complete module 5 of the Regulator's online training programme so that module 6 could be dealt with at this meeting. The first ill-helath early retirement since the new way of handling these was put in place was approved. Retired members had sought to have a yearly meeting but what was suggeted in May was an AGM for both current/retired members to attend but when this was raised by Mr Blyth no other trustees now supported the idea. A meeting had taken place with Baillie Gifford and their progress would be monitored but the other fund managers were performing well despite the current problems.
Board of Trustees will met on the 26th May, 2008. The trustees agreed it was not the time to introduce an independent trustee but to keep the issue under review. Agreed a meeting with Baillie Gifford should be arranged to discuss their current performance. The trustees agreed to monitor the universities convenant with the Board of Trustees. All the trustees were asked to complete up to module 5 of the Regulator's e-learning on-line training programme so module 6 could be dealth with a the next training session in October.
Board of Trustees met on the 5th February, 2008. Mr Blyth welcomed as the Pensioner trustee until 31st July, 2012. Investment sub-committee agreed to recommend replacing the tracking fund with Schroders. The PaySave option was to be put to a vote of members, if implemented a substantial amount could be added to the fund from both employee and employer savings. Pensioners request for yearly meet might best be met by holding an AGM which would be for pensioner and current members. Baillie Gifford attended to give their yearly update on their funds performance.
Board of Trustees met on the 8th October, 2007 Reg Gavine welcomed as the new technical constituency trustee and Mr Blyth was thanked for his 35 years as a trustee . Sub-committee of the Trustees travelled down to London 31st July to meet with Blackrock; Schroders; Goldman Sachs and Pimco to resolve who to choose to replace the tracker fund. The outcome was a further meeting with Schroders and Pimco was to take place. At 30th September fund valued at £47 million.
Board of Trustees met on the 8th May, 2007 Staff who as a result of assimilaition into the Framework who now find themselves in Grade 6 have 6 months to decide is they wish to stay in the local scheme or transfer to the USS. This also applies to any current sppeals. New staff will in the future have a retirement age of 65 current staff have the option of retiral at age 60 with no actuarial reduction. The Pension Regulator accepted our plan for recovery with some comments that could be fully justified.
Board of Trustees met on the 9th October, 2006. Agreed Ian McDevitt's period of office will be to 31st July, 2010. Details on the effect of the Framework Agrrement would impact on the scheme. Grades 1 to 5 would be in S&LAS and Grade 6 and above would be in USS with certain exceptions. A new Grade 6 appointments would automaticaly join the USS. Staff on assimilaition to Grades 6/7 would have 6 months to decide if they wanted to transfer to the USS. Spouce's pension to be 50% of member's and if death within 5 years the full pension outstanding is to be paid. The trustees met again on 1st December to consider the actuarial report which showed the funding level was now at 83%
Board of Trustees met on the 9th May, 2006.
Board of Trustees met on the 24th January, 2006. Ron Piper to be new employer trustee replacing Alaistair Work, following approval at the February Court meeting. Still no replacement for the vacant Retired member trustee. The scheme actuary now Neil Puxley. Susan Gostick and Jonathon Overland reported on the Lazards Global Investment fund.
Board of Trustees last met on the 4th October, 2005. It was announced that Ian McLaren had resigned and a new retired members trustee would have to be found. It was also intimated that Alastair Work would be leaving the university at the end of 2005.
Board of Trustees last met on 24th May, 2005 and received a report from Schroder's one of our fund managers. However following the report from the special sub-committee set up in January which recommended changes to the way the funds were split to the investment managers it was agreed that Schroder's would be dropped in favour of a new manager namely Lazards. On the implications of the framework agreement existing staff could remain in the current local scheme, the cost of a transfer would be prohibitive however new staff would go into USS if they acceded the appropriate point in the pay scale yet to be agreed. The next meeting is scheduled for the 4th October, 2005
Board of Trustees last met on 20th January, 2005 and received a much more encouraging report from Baillie Gifford one of our fund managers.The fund now stands at a little under £32 million a big improvement on the past, but still to early yet to report all is well.The equity investments traditionally 55% UK and 45% overseas will be further examined to see if performance returns could be improved. It was noted Gordon Dickson's period of office would be up at 31st July, 2005, thus requiring issueing notices to members to seek nominations, Gordon is of course eligible to re stand.
Board of Trustees last met on 4th October 2004 and received a detailed report from our Investment Managers at Legal & General.The trustees noted the appointment by Court of Peter Cabrelli as Convener.The Trust deeds and rules were being updated. The trustees will next meet is on 20th January 2005.
Board of Trustees last met on 19th May and received a detailed report from our Investment Manager from Schroder's. As it was Alasdair MacIntyre last meeting the trustees thanked him for all his hard work in what has been a difficult four years. The Court will shortly announce Alasdair's successor to serve from 1st August, 2004 Board of Trustees met on 27th January, 2004 when they received a report from Baillie Gifford one of their investment mangers. Contribution rates from 1st February, 2004 Employer 20.23% and Employee 7.77% giving a joint funding rate of 28%Current ratio of funding 13/18ths (employer) and 5/18ths (employee) agreed by the unions summer 2002. Whilst so far this formula has been used to increase contributions it will also be the one to reduce contributions when the fund is in surplus.
Secretary to the Trustees Sharon McRobbie (resigned from 24/08/05)
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