Issue - meetings

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

·     No new risks have been added during the quarter.

·     No risks have been removed or de-escalated during the quarter.

·     Material updates for this quarter are outlined in section 11.

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance (HAMA) introduced a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided an update on the position of the Council’s Corporate Risk Register. It was noted that no new risks had been added and no risks removed or de-escalated during the quarter. Material updates for the quarter were outlined in section 11 of the report.

The Corporate Director for Children’s Services was invited to provide an update on Risk CR02. She confirmed that the risk had been reconfigured following a reinspection of Children’s Services in 2024 which had improved the service rating from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’. She explained the background to the statutory direction to improve SEND services which was delivered in 2023 and the steps taken with local area partners to respond to the direction. Following another full inspection of services in November 2025, the outcome report was due to be published on 2 February. Although currently embargoed, the Corporate Director was able to assure the Committee that the tone of the report gave confidence. Once the report was public Risk CR02 would be reviewed and updated.

The Corporate Director responded to questions and comments on how the different elements of the risk were managed within the overarching risk. She confirmed that the action plan was under continual review by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with the local area partnership undertaking the work required. Challenges included the SEND White Paper and ongoing financial issues. It was suggested that there may be a need to review the due dates for significant actions in CR02 once the inspection report was published.

The Chair referred to an item on the action sheet for her to liaise with the Chair of Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee on issues relating to the Corporate Risk Register including the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and Risk CR02. The Corporate Director indicated that this action would hopefully assure the Committee that these risks were being managed and mitigated.

The HAMA referred to the update provided in Appendix 4 of the report which appeared to respond to the outstanding action on the Action Sheet in relation to Risk CR20. He agreed to check with the risk owner that this was the full response and feedback to the Committee. The HAMA also agreed to circulate a response in relation to questions on Risk CR27, specifically whether the cliff management strategy and risk register had now been developed and the target score updated. 

RESOLVED that Members of the Audit and Governance Committee note the update provided in this report relating to corporate risks.

Voting: Agreed with no dissent