Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council to submit a report outlining the current strategic risks which have been identified and assessed on the recent review of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register by the Senior Leadership Team.

Cabinet

NOTED the content of the report and the updated Strategic Risk Register and associated risk management action plan, as attached at Appendix A.

Dawn Garton, Director for Corporate Services introduced the report, the purpose of which was to carry out the 6 monthly review of the Council’s strategic risks. She explained that the Audit and Standards Committee monitored this work and had signed off the annual report. The risk register was appended to the report. She added that the register was managed by project teams and lead officers and key changes were reported regularly to the Senior Leadership Team.

The Leader moved the recommendation and said that this was an important report and set out how the Council had to take ownership of risk management and mitigate the risks. He paid tribute to the Audit and Standards Committee and their involvement in overseeing this work. He referred to the Council’s highest risk which was failure to ensure financial security and in the present circumstances through the pandemic and now the recovery, the Council had to be prudent in managing its business continuity and consider spending cuts to balance its budget. He added that the vibrancy of the town centre and supporting businesses both in the town and rural areas was essential for the future  prosperity of the Borough. He mentioned the work on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the signs of success coming to fruition due to Councillor Pearson’s commitment supported by the Director and Chief Executive. He felt that the progress of the Council was beyond the green shoots stage.

Councillor de Burle seconded the motion and supported the Leader’s comments. He felt that due to the government’s direction on climate change this should be at a higher level as there was so much work to do. Mrs Garton advised that all risks were regularly reviewed at service and management levels and there was a detailed action plan. It was noted that an Information Champion was a designated service lead who had a higher level of knowledge and skill in their area of expertise and promoted best practice as well as provided liaison between the service area and management.

The Chief Executive offered reassurance that the Council was reviewing baseline activities to then assess what was required for the future to  inform  a long-term plan to 2030. A climate change strategy was underway and would be available by the end of the year and the risk would be reassessed at that time.

Councillor Pearson paid tribute to Andrew Cotton, the Housing and  Communities Director, for his contribution to improving the HRA position which he had inherited on his arrival 12 months ago. He also thanked Councillors and Officers for their support and said it had been a good team effort to reach the current position.

DECISIONS (NON-KEY)

Cabinet unanimously

NOTED the content of the report and the updated Strategic Risk Register and associated risk management action plan, as attached at Appendix A.

Reason for the decision

One of the key areas for Cabinet, as part of its terms of reference, is to have awareness of the strategic risks that could impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 163