1 Funding arrangements

1.1 The funding arrangements changed for the Firefighters' Pension scheme on 1 April 2006 at the same time as the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme was introduced. Before, the Authority was responsible for the cost of paying the pensions of its own former employees on a pay-as-you-go basis. Under the new arrangements the schemes remain unfunded and as before do not have any investment assets. The Authority no longer meets the pensions outgo directly, instead it pays an employer's pension contribution based on a percentage of pay into the pension fund account. All Fire Authorities are required by legislation to operate a Pension Fund Account and the amounts paid into and out of it are specified by regulation.

1.2 The Account is balanced to nil each year by receiving cash in the form of a pension top-up grant from the Government equal to the amount by which the amount payable from the Account exceeded the amount receivable. Should the position arise where the amounts receivable ever exceed those payable then the surplus would be paid over to the Government.

2 Accounting for future liabilities

2.1 These accounts do not take into account the liabilities to pay pensions and other benefits after the end of the financial year. As this liability rests with the Authority it is included in the Authority's own Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet.

3 Provision

3.1 The Government has issued guidance to Police Authorities advising that it is to further backdate revised commutation factors in relation to the Police Pension Scheme. Parallel advice is expected for Fire Authorities. Therefore a provision has been set up totalling £703,000 to cover the expected costs that will arise in relation to these factors being backdated to 22 August 2006 under the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 1992.