Agenda
Read the Agenda
A joint meeting of the Pensions Committee and Pension Board will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Monday 16 March 2026 at 10.30am.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.
Yours faithfully
Stewart Fraser
Chief Officer - Legal & Corporate Governance
Business
1. Roll Call/Apologies for Absence/Leisgeulan
2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement/ Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/Aithris Fhollaiseachd
Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time. Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.
3. Service Plan 2026/27/Plana Seirbheis 2026/27
There is circulated Report No. PC/01/26 by the Chief Officer Corporate Finance.
The Committee is invited to approve the following:-
i. Highland Pension Fund service Plan 2026/27; and
ii. Highland Pension Fund budget for 2026/27 (Section 11 and Appendix 3) to support the delivery of service plan.
4. Pension Fund Administration/Rianachd Maoin Peinnsein
There is circulated Report No. PC/02/26 by the Chief Officer Corporate Finance.
The Committee is invited to consider the report and note the following:-
i. current Highland Pension Fund administration performance and performance updates (section 6);
ii. update on Pension Dashboard connection (section 7);
iii. Investors In People accreditation standard award and training (section 8); and
iv. consultation responses (section 10).
5. External Audit Annual Plan 2025/26/Plana Bliadhnail Sgrùdadh on Taobh A-muigh 2025/26
There is circulated Report No. PC/03/26 by the External Auditor, Audit Scotland.
The Committee is invited to comment on and otherwise note the Audit Annual Plan 2025/26.
6. Highland Council Pension Fund Internal Audit Annual Plan 2026/27/ Plana Bliadhnail In-Sgrùdadh Maoin Peinnsein Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd 2026/27
There is circulated Report No. PC/04/26 by the Strategic Lead (Audit & Risk).
The Committee is asked to approve the 2026/27 Internal Audit Plan as set out in section 5.3 of the report.
7. Internal Audit Report – Pension Fund Payments/ Aithisg In-Sgrùdaidh – Pàighidhean Maoin Peinnsein
There is circulated Report No. PC/05/26 by the Strategic Lead (Audit & Risk).
The Committee is asked to note the content of the report, the audit opinion provided and to raise any relevant points with the Strategic Lead (Audit & Risk).
8. Risk Management Update 2025/26/ Cunntas às Ùr air Rianachd Cunnairt 2025/26
There is circulated Report No. PC/06/26 by the Chief Officer Corporate Finance.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the updated risk register extract (Appendix 1); and
ii. consider whether any additional risks need to be added to the register.
9. Investment Sub Committee Membership/Ballrachd Fo-Chomataidh Tasgaidh
The Committee is asked to agree that Mr P Logue replaces Mr R Gale on the Investment Sub Committee.
10. Investment Sub Committee: Minutes of Meeting/Fo-chomataidh Tasgaidh: Geàrr-chunntas na Coinneimh
The Minutes of the meeting of the Investment Sub-Committee held on 17 December 2025 are circulated for approval.