Introduction
Bath & North East Somerset Council, as administering authority to the Avon Pension Fund (APF or Fund), has determined its discretionary policies in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (LGPS) 2013, as amended, and related legislation, and these are outlined in this statement. These policies apply to all current members in the Fund, regardless of who their employer is. Where relevant, these policies equally apply to members who left pensionable service prior to 1 April 2014 (albeit only in relation to discretions exercised since the effective date of these policies) and to pension credit members.
APF's discretionary policies have been reviewed in line with legislation changes effective since 1 April 2014 and these policies have been amalgamated into this statement. This policy was last updated and approved in 2021, and the stated policies apply from that point onwards.
These policies do not give, nor shall they be deemed to give, any contractual rights to any member of the Fund, or to any other person whatsoever. Nothing in this document will cause Bath & North East Somerset Council’s capacity to exercise its discretionary powers, as administering authority to the APF, to be unlawfully fettered or restricted in any way.
Where a policy states that it is subject to an officer's approval and that officer is unavailable, that delegation may be exercised by an alternative officer within the APF Management Team, in line with APF’s Scheme of Delegations Policy. These discretions will be exercised in line with the provisions of the various LGPS regulations and other legislation. Nothing within this statement can overwrite the legal requirements within those provisions.