Today (11 May 2026) is the earliest day for councillors and mayors to apply to (re-)join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). This was intended to enhance the attraction of standing as a councillor but what will the take-up be?

Mayors and councillors of county, district and unitary councils are now eligible to join the LGPS.  In most cases, consent of the authority will not be required but automatic enrolment does not apply, so mayors and councillors will need to opt in to build up benefits.

Ordinarily, we would expect most councillors and mayors to opt in but with Reform planning to end access to the LGPS for new workers if it gains power at a general election, it will be interesting to see whether the 1450 Reform councillors take this up.  It would seem contradictory for Reform to be committed to ending access to the LGPS for new workers but content for its councillors and mayors to take this up.  We are not aware that Reform has a publicised policy on this, so we wait to see.

However, if Reform councillors do take a consistent approach, this could mean a patchy uptake of this new right - and perhaps a correspondingly patchy workload for LGPS funds as well.

For advice relating to the LGPS, contact Doug Mullen or Lauren Broderick.