Latest news with #SPPA
The Courier
a day ago
- The Courier
Retired Perthshire officer still awaiting money amid police pension dispute
A retired Perthshire police officer says he is still awaiting money owed to him in a long-running dispute over pensions. Brian Duncan, 55, from Bridge of Earn, served in the Perth and Kinross area for 27 years. He is one of hundreds of retired officers across Scotland who say they have yet to receive pension payments due to them. A campaign has been launched in frustration at ongoing delays and poor communication from the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA). The dispute dates back to 2015, when the police pension scheme moved from the '1987 Scheme' to the CARE (career average revalued earnings) scheme, which bases pensions on average earnings throughout a career. The 1987 Scheme allowed officers to retire with an immediate pension after 30 years of service, or at age 55 with any length of service. This applied to officers who joined before April 6 2006, and was closed to active members on March 31 2022. Brian, who retired in 2021, told The Courier he had planned his retirement before 'the carpet was ripped from under our feet'. 'The CARE scheme is much worse than the 1987 one,' he said. 'We couldn't possibly know or plan for that change. When we joined, you knew after 30 years, that was going to be our pension. 'They were essentially asking people to work an extra seven years in some cases because of their age.' In 2018, an age discrimination case was brought to the Court of Appeal and won. The ruling – known as the McCloud Judgment – forced the UK Government to implement changes across all public service pension schemes. The amount owed to each retired officer depends on when they joined the force and how many years they served. Brian added: 'The pensions were changed and now we're finally getting put back to where we should've been. 'The SPPA has now missed seven deadlines, and the lack of communication has just been atrocious. 'We've all got together on Facebook and decided to, en masse, put our feelings in writing that this can't go on. 'They're now saying that it's looking like October or December before this gets done – we were promised it would be March. 'We were meant to be first – the people in ill-health retiral, but now we're very much at the back of the queue. 'They've had four years to prepare, yet had no staffing or computer systems in place until the very last minute.' Brian says the retired officers organisation has submitted a letter of no confidence to the SPPA arguing that hundreds of retirees in Scotland have been 'utterly cut adrift'. He said the time it is taking for the SPPA to pay the officers back is adding to the interest that will be owed. A spokesperson for the SPPA said: 'The SPPA is unable to comment on individual cases. 'However, we acknowledge the frustrations of retired police scheme members who have not yet received their statements and have apologised directly to those affected for the delay. 'The SPPA has made significant progress in delivery for the police pension scheme, where 84 per cent of immediate choice remediable service statements have been issued to date, as well as 99 per cent of deferred choice statements. 'This is a similar delivery position to most other police public sector administrators in the UK. 'Despite this progress, we recently took the difficult decision, in accordance with legislation, to extend the target dates for delivery for the remaining 16 per cent. 'The majority of statements are expected by the end of October and those remaining by the end of 2025. 'We continue to dedicate our resources to resolving the remaining 16 per cent of outstanding cases not yet produced. 'These are affected by a range of complex factors and require in-depth technical knowledge to ensure each one is completed accurately. 'The SPPA continues to work diligently and on a daily basis to ensure these cases are processed as quickly as possible and that accurate RSS are provided so that retired members already receiving pension payments can receive the accurate amounts due.'
The Sun
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malakoff to install rooftop solar power systems at Mardec's key facilities
PETALING JAYA: Malakoff Radiance Sdn Bhd (MRSB), the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar subsidiary of Malakoff Corporation Bhd, has formalised a strategic collaboration with Mardec Bhd through the signing of a solar power purchase agreement (SPPA). The agreement signed on April 18 paves the way for the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at five of Mardec's key facilities across Peninsular Malaysia. The project will be implemented under the Net Energy Metering Scheme, delivering a combined installed capacity of about 3.54 megawatt-peak (MWp). Facilities involved include Mardec Processing Sdn Bhd, Mardec Industrial Latex Sdn Bhd and M-POL Precision Products Sdn Bhd. The largest installation with a capacity of 1.15 MWp, will be located at Mardec Processing in Baling, Kedah. Installation is set to begin in mid-July, with commissioning to follow shortly after. Mardec is a key player in Malaysia's rubber industry, specialising in the processing and trading of Standard Malaysian Rubber, latex concentrate and specialty rubber products. It also plays an important role in supporting rubber smallholders by promoting sustainable sourcing. Malakoff managing director and group CEO Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, said, 'This initiative with Mardec Berhad marks an important milestone in our commitment to driving industrial-scale RE solutions. By embedding solar into core operational facilities, companies can not only lower their carbon footprint but also strengthen long-term operational resilience' In 2024, he added, MRSB secured 22.1 MWp of C&I solar projects with 17.4 MWp successfully installed across various sectors. The client portfolio includes Senai International Airport, Malaysia Flying Academy, UMW Group of Companies, Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings, Gas Malaysia, Pos Malaysia and DRB-Hicom. To date, it has built a strong C&I solar portfolio totalling 60MW. 'Each initiative we undertake contributes to a larger vision of accelerating the nation's clean energy transition. Collectively, these efforts are helping to reshape Malaysia's energy landscape, and we remain committed to pursuing strategic partnerships that drive long-term sustainability,' said Anwar Syahrin. Malakoff is actively advancing the growth of its RE initiatives while ensuring Malaysia's energy security remains uncompromised. Through its business pillar, Malakoff Green Solutions, the company has built an impressive RE portfolio of 173MW. This includes diverse projects such as large-scale solar, commercial and industrial solar installations, small hydropower generation, and the implementation of carbon-free mobility infrastructure. These initiatives highlight Malakoff's steadfast commitment to its purpose of 'Enhancing Life, Enriching Communities', demonstrating the company's dedication to fostering a sustainable and resilient energy future.
