The Assistant Director - Pensions presented the report that updated Members on the information sent to Scheme Members on the Annual Benefit Statement and invited comments to inform a reorganisation of the information for the following year.

Members commented that certain key information could be summarised on page one to reach a maximum audience and avoid Scheme Members being mistakenly misled.

Members queried how e-comms was managed regarding Scheme Members who had no email or a deactivated email.

The Assistant Director - Pensions clarified that all Members needed a valid email address to access their account (unless they had opted out at a legitimate opportunity) and from there could view the Annual Benefit Statement. Scheme Members with no email or a deactivated email could not access their account or the key communications sent to them so needed to be identified and targeted regularly to add a valid address as part of a communications plan.

The Chair stated the need to reduce queries from Scheme Members to employers.

The Assistant Director Pensions stated that feedback from employers was welcomed and they will be consulted on the changes to how the Annual Benefit Statement is presented to Scheme Members to ensure minimum unnecessary queries in response to key communications. It was stated Scheme Member feedback was also welcomed and that various methods to acquire this feedback would be considered.

RESOLVED: Members accepted and commented on the report.