Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources, that required Members to undertake a quarterly review of the Corporate Risk Register as assurance that the Council’s corporate risks were being managed effectively. A table of the Corporate Risk Register, latest ratings and officer commentary was attached as appendix 1 to the report.

The Chairman introduced the report and deferred to the PPG Manager to address the detail. She advised that the report covered Q4 January- March 2023 and appendix 1 provided the full table of the Corporate Risk Register as at the end of March. Section 3.2 of the covering report showed where risks had changed direction since the last quarter. The three changes were all risk decreases for this quarter and the rating risk had subsequently been reduced:-

·        R4 – Failure to influence Community Safety Partners to address the key areas of public concern (including rural crime) and the negative perception of crime. The scoring had been reduced due to assurances received from an internal audit.

·        R9- Failure to have a co-ordinated approach to supporting inward investment and maximising business rate growth. The investment prospectus website had now launched, thus reducing the risk.

·        R29-Failure to deliver services as a result of Covid. Covid cases had reduced and was now monitored as normal sickness/ part of business as usual.

The Chairperson moved the recommendations which were seconded and opened the discussion. In response to issues raised Officers provided the following information:-

·        That to assist Members in understanding the risk appetite of the Council and how it is scored the Corporate Risk Policy would be circulated outside of the meeting. This would also be included as background papers in future meeting packs.

·        That due to the sometimes retrospective nature of commentaries, more focussed commentaries, together with milestones, would be included in future iterations of the Corporate Risk Register.

·        That the outcomes from the LGA (Local Government Association) Finance Peer Challenge Review was reported in a presentation to all Members. The report will be considered at Council in July 2023.

·        That the Council was obliged to produce a balanced budget and that the use of reserves was an element of a balanced budget. That these issues will be expanded on future iterations of the Corporate Risk Register to ensure clarity for Members around all future challenges and assurance that mitigating actions were being taken.

There being no further discussion the Chairperson put the duly seconded recommendations to the Committee and they were agreed by assent.

RESOLVED

(i)            That Members reviewed the Corporate Risk Register in appendix 1 and

provided comment and feedback for consideration.

(ii)           That Members reviewed progress of the Corporate Risk Mitigating actions in

appendix 2and provided comment and feedback for consideration.

(iii)          That Members were assured through this review that corporate risk was being

managed effectively.

(iv)         That Members challenged risk where the Committee felt that the Council’s

corporate goals may not be achieved.