Agenda item

To receive and note the report of the Director of Resources (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Resources providing an update on the position at the end of Quarter 4 (31 March 2017) on the corporate risks included within the Corporate Risk Register 2016/17.

The report detailed the risks of the Corporate Risk Register and the risk scores as at 31 March 2017.

The Director of Customers and Community arrived at this point in the meeting.

The Director of Resources advised that 11 of 16 risk scores had stayed the same overall.

Members discussed the report and raised a number of issues:

Risk 01 – Failure to safeguard children and vulnerable adults  - how was MDC safeguarding – was this by attending meetings as the update did not say anything other than that “meetings are attended”.

The Director of Customers and Community was welcomed to the meeting and advised that safeguarding was part of the day-to-day activity of MDC and offers must adhere to it.  Part of his job was to raise the profile of safeguarding by talking through the process and encouraging staff to report concerns.  Members from all departments were part of the Safeguarding Group.  There was a need to look at trends/common errors/training (for instance domestic violence or gypsy and traveller communities). 

MDC had a policy to report concerns.  These were first looked at by the team internally and then referred on to Social Services or the Police.  Departments around the building were also informed.  Concerns were always reported unless there was very good justification not to.

Risk 08 – Being designated as an under-performing authority due to major planning applications and appeals performance – in response to a question, the Director of Resources advised that the External Planning Consultant was Mr Simon Rowberry.

Risk 04 – Changes to police resources/priories impacts resident perception of crime – Councillor M S Heard reiterated his other pecuniary interest declared earlier and asked how the score could be reduced from 9 to 4 when the Police move had not yet happened and that newspaper headlines stated no confidence in the Police.

Councillor Heard then left the Council Chamber.

The Director of Customers and Community advised that MDC had a policing plan and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee looked specifically at Police performance twice a year.  From MDC’s point of view, relocation of the Police was a positive move as it made contact a day-to-day activity.  Police performance would continue to be monitored.

Members were of the opinion that it was premature to reduce this risk score and Councillor E L Bamford proposed a review of the risk score.  This was duly seconded and, upon a vote, the motion was carried.

Councillor Heard returned to the meeting at this point.

Risk 07 – Uncertainty regarding strategic ownership of flooding mitigation and long term maintenance responsibilities – there were concerns that the score for this risk had remained constant for a long time.  There was a need to take flooding seriously and implement proper Sustainable Urban Drainage maintenance schemes and ensure that residents knew what to do in the event of a flood.

Concern was also raised as to the lack of representation on tidal flooding which would have a very high impact on the district.  There was a need for a mechanism in place to react to damage of property and reputation of business areas, in the event of tidal flooding.

In response, the Director of Customers and Community advised that in terms of mitigation, MDC had emergency plans in place which had been activated in the past.  More work must be done to ensure business continuity by ensuring businesses take their responsibilities seriously.  The Director of Customers and Community would take this back to CLT and provide the next meeting of this Committee with a report.

Risk 05 – Failure to have an adopted LDP – there was concern that this risk score had been reduced before confirmation that the LDP had been accepted was received.  The Director of Resources was asked to take this back to colleagues to discuss.

Risk 13 – Committee Structure not fit for purpose – in response to a question that it was premature to reduce the risk score before any decisions had been made, the Director of Resources would discuss this with the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED:

(i)                 that the Corporate Risk Register for 2017/18 as agreed by the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) be noted;

(ii)               that Risk 04 – Changes to police resources/priorities impacts resident perception of crime would be reviewed by CLT and be brought back to a future meeting of this Committee;

(iii)             that a separate risk would be included for tidal flooding;

(iv)             that Members were assured that corporate risk was being managed effectively.