Meeting held at 9:00am at Bickerstaffe House, Blackpool.
Present:
Sue Douthwaite, Chair
Michael Brodie, Chief Executive
Kathy Gillatt, Non-Executive Director
David Leather, Non-Executive Director
Mathew McKie, Non-Executive Director
Mel Tomlin, Non-Executive Director (via video conference)
Brendan Brown, Chief Operating Officer
Darren Curry, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer
Mark Dibble, Chief People Officer
Andy McKinlay, Chief Finance Officer
In attendance:
Chris Knight, Associate Non-Executive Director
Stuart Nelson, Chief Commercial Officer, DHSC
David Jukes, Corporate Secretary (Secretary to the Board), NHSBSA
Andy Clark, Senior Service Delivery Manager, NHSBSA (Observer - Pension Service Representative)
Paul Cooper, NHS Pensions Director, NHSBSA (via video conference) (items 26/62 to 26/64 only)
Michael Costello, Finance Director, NHSBSA (via video conference) (items 26/63 to 26/65 only)
Claire Forrester, Interim Head of Pensions Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, NHSBSA (item 26/62 only)
Gemma Knight, Organisational Design and Development Lead, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/68 only)
Georgia MacWhirter, Head of Financial Strategy and Planning, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/63 to 26/65 only)
Jonathan Marron, Chief Transition Officer, NHSBSA
Jeff Pasternack, SRO - Future NHS Workforce Solution Transformation Programme, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/61 only)
Ashleigh Peel-Lowes, Head of Strategy, Performance and Planning, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/67 only)
Jacqui Pendleton, Audit Manager, GIAA (via video conference) (item 26/69 only)
Libby Pink, Chief Portfolio Officer, NHSBSA
Chris Price, Future NHS Workforce Solution Transformation Programme Director, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/61 only)
Matt Rainbow, Performance Manager, NHSBSA (Observer - Pension Service Representative)
Paul Spooner, NHS ESR Director, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/61 only)
Richard Stanyon, Senior Finance Business Partner, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/63 to 26/65 only)
Vince Strafford, Project Director, NHSBSA (via video conference) (item 26/62 only)
Kevin Watkins, Head of Internal Audit, GIAA (via video conference)
26/52 Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interest
Apologies were received from Karen Finlayson, Allison Newell and Randeep Sidhu. There were no declarations of interest declared in relation to the Board meeting agenda.
26/53 Minutes of the Board Meeting held on 19 March 2026
The minutes of the previous meetings were AGREED and APPROVED as an accurate record.
26/54 Matters Arising and Outstanding Actions from Previous Meetings
The Board discussed the actions. All actions were either complete, addressed as part of the meeting agenda or not yet due. The Board NOTED completed actions.
26/55 Chair's Opening Remarks
The Chair welcomed S Nelson to the meeting, noting that he would attend all future NHSBSA Board meetings as the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Sponsor Representative, following the retirement of Nigel Zaman.
The Chair welcomed K Watkins to the meeting.
A Clark and M Rainbow were welcomed as observers representing NHS Pensions. The Chair invited them to contribute to discussions where appropriate. Both attendees thanked the Chair for the opportunity to observe and contribute.
The Board NOTED the update.
26/56 Confirmed minutes from the Audit and Risk Management Committee (ARC) meeting held on 3 March 2026
The Board NOTED the minutes.
26/57 Update from the Audit and Risk Management Committee Meeting held on 29 April 2026 - Alert, Advise, Assure (AAA) Report
K Gillatt gave an update on the work of the ARC. The Board NOTED the update.
26/58 Update from the Audit and Risk Management Committee (NHS Pensions) Meeting held on 29 April 2026 - Alert, Advise, Assure (AAA) Report
K Gillatt gave an update on the work of the ARC (Pensions). The Board NOTED the update.
26/59 Chief Executive's Business Update Report
M Brodie introduced the item, highlighting key points including in relation to:
- Publication of the COVID-19 Public Inquiry (Module 4) Report on 17 April 2026.
- Dental Contract Reforms (DCR).
- Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD) service.
- Healthy Start Update.
- Colleague performance management approach development.
- Business performance including operational service KPI delivery; progress on delivering against NHSBSA Strategic Goals; change portfolio delivery and benefits; DDaT/ People KPIs and the Corporate Risk Register.
The Board NOTED the report.
26/60 NHSBSA Assurance Review - Update
M Brodie updated members on the NHSBSA Assurance Review.
The Board NOTED the update.
(Jeff Pasternack, Chris Price and Paul Spooner joined the meeting)
26/61 Future NHS Workforce Solution (FWS) Programme - Spotlight
J Pasternack, C Price and P Spooner provided the Board with an update on the programme.
The Board NOTED the update.
(J Pasternack, C Price and P Spooner left the meeting)
(Paul Cooper, Claire Forrester and Vince Strafford joined the meeting)
26/62 NHS Pension Service - Key Priorities Update
B Brown introduced the item. B Brown and the team provided an update on the key priorities and challenges within the NHS Pensions Service.
The Board NOTED the update.
(Claire Forrester and Vince Strafford left the meeting)
(Michael Costello, Georgia MacWhirter and Richard Stanyon joined the meeting)
26/63 Pension Service Budget 2026/27
A McKinlay introduced the item and the team. M Costello, supported by Georgia MacWhirter and R Stanyon, highlighted key points – underlining the collaborative working between the NHSBSA and DHSC.
The Board APPROVED the 2026/27 Pensions revenue and capital budgets for onward submission to DHSC and noted the associated financial risks.
26/64 Pension Service Finance Report
A McKinlay introduced the item, noting that this was the first iteration of the report. M Costello, G MacWhirter and R Stanyon highlighted key points. M Costello thanked NHSBSA Board members for their engagement and feedback at the focused session held in advance of the meeting
The Board NOTED the report and the associated financial risks.
(Paul Cooper left the meeting)
26/65 Finance Report
A McKinlay introduced the report. M Costello provided an overview of the financial position.
The Board NOTED the report.
(Michael Costello, Georgia MacWhirter and Richard Stanyon left the meeting)
26/66 Workforce Transformation and Efficiency Plan Update
J Marron presented the item, highlighting key points from the paper.
The Board NOTED the report and AGREED the proposed approach.
(Ashleigh Peel-Lowes joined the meeting)
26/67 NHSBSA Business Plan 2026/27
J Marron presented an overview of the updated draft NHSBSA Business Plan for 2026/27, reflecting feedback received at the March 2026 Board meeting and through subsequent engagement.
Following discussion, the Board APPROVED the Business Plan 2026/27, subject to any final minor drafting amendments being provided by members. The final version would be circulated to members once the design process has been completed.
(Ashleigh Peel-Lowes left the meeting)
(Gemma Knight joined the meeting)
26/68 Training and Development Spotlight
M Dibble introduced the item and G Knight to members. G Knight presented the update.
The Board NOTED the report.
(Gemma Knight left the meeting)
(Jacqui Pendleton joined the meeting)
26/69 Board and Chair Effectiveness Review 2025/26
S Douthwaite welcomed J Pendleton to the meeting and introduced the NHSBSA Board and Chair Effectiveness Review report. J Pendleton reminded the Board of the approach taken and thanked members for their input. J Pendleton provided an overview of the report.
The Board was required to assess its own effectiveness on a regular basis. This assessment was undertaken annually, with an externally facilitated review conducted every three years. During 2025/26 GIAA had carried out the external review of Board effectiveness.
The Board NOTED and AGREED the report.
M Tomlin provided an overview of the Chair Effectiveness Review 2025/26 and thanked all members for completing the survey. The results indicated that the Chair was considered highly effective, with a mean score of 8.8 out of 10, consistent with the 2024/25 mean score of 8.8.
The Board NOTED and AGREED the report.
(J Pendleton left the meeting)
26/70 Forward Agenda and Training Plan
The Board NOTED the Forward Agenda and Training Plan.
26/71 Any Other Business
There were no items raised under Any Other Business.
As agreed prior to the meeting, the members had reviewed the following items prior to the meeting and provided any comments to the relevant colleagues.
26/72 Modern Slavery Statement
Following discussion, the Board NOTED the content of the report and progress against previous commitments, REVIEWED and APPROVED the updated NHSBSA Modern Slavery Statement for 2026/27, and AGREED to publishing the updated NHSBSA Statement on the Home Office registry and NHSBSA external website.
26/73 Corporate Governance Framework
D Jukes highlighted that the review of the NHSBSA Corporate Governance Framework was carried out annually, and the Board was asked to review the framework to ensure it continued to be fit for purpose. The Board also received updates on various elements of the framework throughout the year, and further assurance was also received through the work of the ARC and Remuneration and Nominations Committee. D Jukes highlighted key points and proposed amendments.
The Board confirmed that they had read and would abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, and the 12 Principles of Governance for all Public Body NEDs.
The Board REVIEWED and APPROVED the Corporate Governance Framework, which included Board Terms of Reference and Matters Reserved to the Board (incorporating Standing Orders), Audit and Risk Management Committee Terms of Reference, Remuneration and Nominations Committee Terms of Reference, SFIs and Scheme of Delegation (subject to agreed amendments following discussion between K Gillatt and A McKinlay), and Conflicts of Interest Policy.
26/74 Communications from the Meeting
The Board wished to thank all colleagues for the warm welcome and engagement shown during their first meeting at Bickerstaffe House.
The Board expressed its thanks to all colleagues involved in securing five ISAE 3000 / ISAE 3402 unqualified assurance opinions.
The Board wished to thank all colleagues involved in the delivery of the DCR system changes for the required date of 1 April 2027.
The Board wished to thank all colleagues involved in the development of the new Pension Service Finance Board reports.
26/75 Date and Venue of the Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Board was scheduled to take place on 18 June 2026 at Stella House, Newcastle.