This section provides information on current pensions related news stories and is updated regularly with up-to-date news and developments within the Local Government Pension Scheme
Statement on Divestment Requests
The following statement provides an update for our Scheme Members and Scheme Employers regarding calls to divestlocal government pension scheme investments that are seen to support the recent conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund’s overriding responsibility is to act in the best financial interests of our scheme members and employers. As part of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), we are required by law to ensure the Fund is appropriately managed in order to pay pensions when they are due.
The investment of the Pension Fund for which Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC has administrative responsibility, lies with the RCT Pension Fund Committee who have fiduciary responsibilities to act in accordance with legal requirements, regulation and its own frameworks set out in Fund governance documents. The Fund remains compliant with all such legal responsibilities.
Whilst the Fund recognises the primacy of its fiduciary duties, it is able to exercise due regard to ‘Responsible Investment’ principles, which are set out in its Investment Strategy Statement. We recognise that scheme members and employers may hold strong and/or alternative views on international policy matters. The advice of the LGPS Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) is clear in that where scheme members are likely to hold differing opinions on non-financial considerations, that investment focus remains solely on financial considerations
The Scheme Advisory Board has responded to the most recent divestment campaign led by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which includes detailed legal submissions requesting LGPS funds to divest from companies alleged to be linked to violations of international law.
The SAB has written to the Local Government Minister on 13th October 2025, requesting whether there is a view from the UK Government on this complex matter in order to provide much needed clarity to the 86 LGPS funds across England and Wales.
At a local level, the majority of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund’s investments are now managed through the Wales Pension Partnership (WPP) as pooled funds, in collaboration with the 8 LGPS Pension Funds in Wales. As such any investment exclusion approach will need to be achieved through a collaborative process between the 8 Welsh Funds.
The WPP is committed to providing its Constituent Authorities with investment solutions that enable them to implement their local level investment strategy, meet their fiduciary duties to their pension fund members and comply with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 2016 (‘2016 Regulations’) (and associated statutory guidance).
Consideration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks is an important part of the Constituent Authorities’ obligations when formulating their individual investment strategy statements (further to the 2016 Regulations) and when performing their investment related fiduciary duties to Members. As such the WPP provides investment solutions which have ESG considerations embedded throughout. As you may be aware from the existing legal framework, each Constituent Authority is unable to simply be driven by ethical considerations when enacting its fiduciary duties relating to investment matters.
The WPP recognises that Human Rights abuse can represent a material ESG risk to assets within the WPP, and its Constituent Authorities, in the form of governance risks (including controversy risk and reputational risk). We also recognise that these risks can also form, or develop into, financial and legal risks.
To further strengthen WPP arrangements in respect of ‘Responsible Investment’, on the 17th November 2025 WPP published an updated statement on exclusions and divestment intent:
New Pension Board Vacancy
The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 requires Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC, as an Administering Authority , to set up a Pension Board to oversee the effective governance and administration of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund. On 14th January 2015, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council (Administering Body) ratified the establishment of a Pension Board to take effect from 01st April 2015.
The Function of the Pension Board is to assist Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Administering Authority as "Scheme Manager" in:
- Securing compliance with the Principal Regulations and any other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the LGPS;
- Securing compliance with the requirements imposed in relation to the LGPS by the Pensions Regulator; and
- Ensuring the effective and efficient governance and administration of the LGPS by the Scheme Manager
The Pension Regulator General Code came into force in March 2024, it sets out the expectations of the conduct and practice that governing bodies should meet to comply with their duties in pensions legislation. The Code can be read here https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/code-of-practice
A vacancy has arisen for a ‘Employer’ representative to join The Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund Local Pension Board. To be considered you must be able to be familiar with:
- legislation and regulations governing the LGPS;
- any document recording policies regarding the administration of the fund
and have knowledge and understanding of;
- the law relating to pensions, and
- any other matters which are prescribed in regulations.
For a more detailed description of the role and terms of reference for the Pension Board please read the Terms of Reference and the Roles and Responsibilities by clicking here.
You need to commit to attending all Board Meetings (normally held 4 times a year) and complete relevant training.
If you wish to be considered for this vacancy please complete the Pension Board Member Application Form and send it to pensions@rctcbc.gov.uk with the email subject “Pensions Board Representative Vacancy”. The closing date is 11th September 2026. The successful applicant will be selected from the applications received (interviews may be required) and we will notify all applicants if they have been successful or not by 25th September 2026. A meeting of the Local Pension Board is scheduled for 02nd November 2026, which the successful applicant would be expected to attend.