Agenda item

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

·        Two risks were combined (CR02 and CR12)

·        One risk was re-included (CR08)

·        4 new risks were added (CR16, CR23, CR24, CR25)

·        3 risks were removed (CR12, CR13, CR22).

Material updates for this quarter are outlined in sections 9 to 11.

The Chief Executive 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 was informed that the report provided an update on the position of the council’s Corporate Risk Register. The main updates were outlined to the Committee.

·       Two risks were combined (CR02 and CR12)

·       One risk was re-included (CR08)

·       4 new risks were added (CR16, CR23, CR24, CR25)

·       3 risks were removed (CR12, CR13, CR22)

The Committee was advised that it was expected that CR02 was increased from 6 to 12 incorrectly and that this would be reduced in the next iteration of the Risk Register. The material updates for the quarter were outlined in the report.

The Committee discussed the response to CR15 concerning staff recruitment, retention and support, which was ‘to tolerate or accept’. This would be followed up with the Risk and Insurance Manager, but it was noted that there were limits in terms of attracting staff. The Committee suggested that it would be useful for the register to include the direction of travel over the course of a year.

There was a concern raised that there wasn’t a risk recorded regarding meeting the statutory requirements for housing. It was noted that this would be included within the Housing Service Risk Register. CR20, regarding the environment and CR03 on information governance were also raised as previously downgraded and it was questioned whether these should be put back on the register. In consideration of the merge of CR02 and CR12 it was noted that these areas were repetitive in the Corporate Risk Register but there was a complete risk register for Children’s Services which would provide a complete breakdown for the service area.

It was noted that the change with CR13 and CR25 had already happened. This was a significant risk. It was noted that this was due to a change in the direction of the transformation programme to services. It was suggested that it would be helpful if as soon as ready could be distributed to the Committee.

It was asked whether CR16 - Failure to Secure Partnerships, should be linked to the transformation programme. The Chief Executive advised that the Council did not have a devolution deal. There was concern that there would be a re-entrenchment in police, health and local government. The risk reflected the challenges in the current public sector environment.

There was general support expressed for the submission of the risk register to Cabinet and possibly Council. There was also general agreement that the Committee should look at Service Level Risk Registers. It was agreed that the programme and scheduling for this be agreed with the Service Lead and Chair. It was proposed that this begin with Children’s Services and this would be followed up by the Chief Executive and Director of Childrens Services.

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

Voting: Nem. Con