Agenda item

The Service Director for Finance and Improvement Services provided the Governance and Audit Committee with an updated Risk Management Strategy together with the latest agreed Strategic Risk Register for the 2023/24 financial year.

The Committee were reminded of its Terms of Reference and Statement of Purpose, which covered its fundamental role in terms of the risk management arrangements of the Council. Members attention was drawn to Table 1 within the report, which detailed the arrangements in place to assist the Governance and Audit Committee in carrying out its responsibilities in respect of risk management.

During 2022/23, the Council’s Risk Management Strategy was reviewed by Internal Audit as part of the ‘Corporate Risk Management’ audit assignment and included a Risk Management Strategy related recommendation for the roles and responsibilities of risk owners to be set out within the Strategy (this also being a recommendation within the 2022/23 Annual Governance Statement). Members were informed that, in line with this recommendation, the key roles and responsibilities had been incorporated within Section 9 of the Risk Management Strategy, to in effect document the arrangements in place within the Council. For ease of reference, the proposed update had been replicated in Table 2 of the report for Members’ consideration.

The Service Director explained that should Members choose to endorse the Council’s updated draft Risk Management Strategy, it would be reported to Cabinet for final approval and published to the Council’s intranet and internet websites to ensure staff are aware of the updates.

In terms of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register, the Service Director advised of the outcome of a review process, which had been undertaken by the Council’s Senior Leadership Team. The officer drew Members attention to Table 3 of the report, which highlighted the following three risks, which had been removed from the register and the rationale for doing so:

1.    Risk 21 – Services being delivered on a regional footprint;

2.    Risk 25 – The planning arrangements to support the on-going recovery from Covid-19; and

3.    Risk 29 – The Council’s strategic approach to fulfilling its counter-terrorism duties.

The Service Director emphasised that the above-mentioned risks would continue to be monitored on an operational level by business plan holders throughout the Council.

The Service Director went on to inform Members of the following two new strategic risks, which had been incorporated into the Register following the review undertaken by the Senior Leadership Team:

1.    Risk 30 – Arrangements to increase the capacity of specialist placements for pupils with highly complex and significant Additional Learning Needs; and

2.    Risk 31 – The preparation for future pandemics.

In total, the Strategic Risk Register now contained 17 risks, 11 of which were deemed high risk and 6 medium risk.

Prior to concluding, the Service Director assured the Committee that the Strategic Risk Register was kept under ongoing review with updates contained within the Council’s quarterly performance reports, which were considered by the Council’s Cabinet and, thereafter, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Governance and Audit Committee RESOLVED:

1.     To review the Council’s updated draft Risk Management Strategy;

2.     To endorse the Council’s updated draft Risk Management Strategy and its reporting to Cabinet for consideration and approval; and

3.     To review the Council’s updated 2023/24 Strategic Risk Register and determine whether it provides the required level of assurance on the arrangements in place to manage the Council’s strategic risks.