To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year.

That Councillor Peter Stoddart be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Peter Stoddart be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Graham Biggs, Alex Wagner, Josh Robinson and Ollie Vickers (Substitute: Councillor Paul Davis).

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

That Councillor Zona Hannington be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Zona Hannington be appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

None received.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on Friday, 26 September 2025.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26th September 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any questions from members of the public of which notice has been given. The deadline for this meeting is 12.00 pm, Monday 21^st September 2026.

No public questions had been received.

Report of the Treasurer. [Report attached]

Contact: Duncan Whitfield.

That the finalised Statement of Accounts 2025/26 be signed by the Chairman and the Treasurer be approved.

That the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 be approved.

The Treasurer, Duncan Whitfield presented the report which outlined the Statement of Accounts 2025/26 and the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26. He reminded members that the Joint Committee had been established to manage the pension liabilities of former West Mercia Supplies employees and reported that the accounts showed the pension reserve had reduced during the year from £341,000 to £291,000, reflecting the latest actuarial assessment of the pension position.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the finalised Statement of Accounts 2025/26 be signed by the Chairman and the Treasurer be approved.

2.    That the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 be approved.

Report of the Treasurer. [Report attached]

Contact: Duncan Whitfield.

That the Pension Liability charges for 2026/27 as set out in section 7 of the report in line with the policy approach as approved by Joint Committee in the Policy decisions 2025/26 report 26th September 2025, be approved.

That the amounts due to be paid by each Member Authority in respect of the Member Authority Liability Charges set out in section 8 of the Treasurers Report, and the payment mechanism set out in section 9 of the Treasurers Report be approved.

The Treasurer, Duncan Whitfield presented the report, detailing the Pension Liability Charges 2026/2027. He explained that the charges had been calculated in line with the policy framework previously approved by the Joint Committee and determined the costs that needed to be recovered from the four member authorities.

Duncan Whitfield advised that in accordance with the joint agreement, the cost would be shared equally between the four authorities, resulting in a charge of £15,325.68 for each authority. He also confirmed that Shropshire Council, as the lead authority, would continue to incur the costs initially and recover the appropriate share from each authority through a single annual invoice.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Pension Liability charges for 2026/27 as set out in section 7 of the report in line with the policy approach as approved by Joint Committee in the Policy decisions 2025/26 report 26th September 2025, be approved.

2.  That the amounts due to be paid by each Member Authority in respect of the Member Authority Liability Charges set out in section 8 of the Treasurers Report, and the payment mechanism set out in section 9 of the Treasurers Report be approved.

Report of the Treasurer. [Report attached]

Contact: Duncan Whitfield.

That the current position in relation to Deficit Recovery Payments set out in Section 7.1 of the report be noted.

That the policy under which Compensatory Added Years, Lead Authority Costs and Other Costs are calculated and charged as set out in sections 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 respectively of this report be approved.

The Treasurer, Duncan Whitfield, presented the Policy Decisions 2027/28 report, explaining that while the report did not determine the actual pension liability charges for 2027/28, it sought approval of the policy framework and methodology that would be used to calculate those charges.

Members were advised that the estimated deficit recovery payments were currently anticipated to be approximately £17,000 for 2027/28 and £17,600 for 2028/29, although the final amounts would be determined through the pension fund valuation process.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the current position in relation to Deficit Recovery Payments set out in Section 7.1 of the report be noted.

2.    That the policy under which Compensatory Added Years, Lead Authority Costs and Other Costs are calculated and charged as set out in sections 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 respectively of this report be approved.

Report of the Treasurer. [Report attached]

Contact: Duncan Whitfield.

That the scheme of Delegations attached at Appendix A of the Treasurers Report be approved.

The Treasurer, Duncan Whitfield presented the report, outlining Scheme of Delegations to Treasurer.

RESOLVED:

That the scheme of Delegations attached at Appendix A of the Treasurers Report be approved.

To agree the date of the next meeting.

The Chairman confirmed that the next meeting would take place in September 2027, date to be confirmed.