Issue - meetings

This report updates councillors on the position of the council’s Corporate Risk Register. The main updates are as follows:

The following four new risks were added:

·     CR17 – Risk to Reputation of Place & Council if summer arrangements are not managed.

·     CR20 – Failure to adequately deliver the ambitions of the climate emergency declaration.

·     CR21 – Impact of global events causing pressure on BCP Council & increase in service requirements.

·     CR22 - Failure of local care market to meet increasing demand.

The following risk was removed:

·     CR1 – Failure to respond to the needs arising from a changing demography.

Additional risk updates are provided at paragraph 12-17.

The Risk and Insurance Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee received an update on the position of the Council’s Corporate Risk Register with a view to providing assurance as to the effective management of the Council’s arrangements for risk management.

It was reported that during Quarter 4 of 2022 the following four new risks had been added to the register:

·     CR17 – Risk to Reputation of Place and Council if summer arrangements are not managed.

·     CR20 – Failure to adequately deliver the ambitions of the climate emergency declaration.

·     CR21 – Impact of global events causing pressure on BCP Council and increase in service requirements.

·     CR22 - Failure of local care market to meet increasing demand.

It was also noted that, during the Quarter, risk CR1 (Failure to respond to the needs arising from a changing demography) had been removed although, in respect of this particular risk, it was explained that this risk had subsequently been dispersed to service areas without diluting the importance and weight attached to it.

In response to questions about risk CR9 (Failure to maintain a safe and balanced budget for the delivery of services) it was confirmed that the Council was actively engaged in addressing the impact on the Council and its residents of the cost-of-living crisis and of current events worldwide and that further reports on the implications of these financial pressures were being prepared for presentation and consideration.

The Committee also received an update about the latest position in respect CR18 (Failure in customer interface) following discussion at the Committee’s previous review of the risk register. It was reported that it remained an area of significant pressure although data about rates of response to customers was showing improvement. It was explained, however, that the situation remained complex whilst the benefits from the Council’s overall transformation programme were still awaited and, in the meantime, significant investment was being made in increasing the level of customer services staff.

In respect of CR19 (Failure to determine planning applications within statutory timescales or within agreed extensions of time) it was reported that improvement was now evident with a focus on mitigations as detailed in the report. In response to questions, it was confirmed that this included a recruitment campaign aimed at creating a permanent local staff base and on reducing the need to engage agency staff.

In conclusion, the Chairman reminded the Committee of the proposal within the draft Forward Plan for 2022/23 to include an opportunity for the Committee to review the arrangements for risk management from an Audit and Governance perspective.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee notes the update provided relating to corporate risks including the additional updates received in respect of the Customer Services and Planning functions.

Voting: Unanimous