Agenda item

The Director for Corporate Services to submit a report providing an update on the risk management arrangements and outlining the current significant risks which have been captured on the recent review of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register by the Senior Leadership Team.

Dawn Garton, Director for Corporate Services submitted a report updating Members on the risk management arrangements and outlining the current significant risks which have been captured on the recent review of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register by the Senior Leadership Team.

Mrs. Garton highlighted that the recent audit of Risk Management had provided good assurance over both the control environment and compliance with the Risk Management Framework.  As well as providing an update on the Risk Register and the progress made since the last update on 28 September 2021, the report detailed the work planned for the coming months (i.e. a planned review and refresh of the current Policy and Strategy).  The work would be undertaken by the Council's insurers and risk management advisors who would engage heavily with the Chair and Committee Members through a workshop and training session, with the aim of submitting the new Policy to Committee in September 2022.

During discussion the following points were noted:

·       The Council had undertaken much work on leisure, which had extended the life of facilities.

·       It was important that facilities met public need and were cost effective for the Council.

·       Previous exploration on the feasibility of maintaining the 2 leisure centres in Melton found that this would be unaffordable.

·       Through its Corporate Strategy, the Council had committed to a sustainable future for leisure facilities and the current review, using external funding and working closely with key stakeholders considered suitable options.

·       The 2 current leisure sites did not meet all public needs (1 site had a pool and the other site had a large sports hall).

·       Progress on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan had been significant and this had not been underestimated.  The Council would transition from the Housing Improvement Plan to the HRA Business Plan and the risk identified within the table at paragraph 5.3 would reduce significantly by the next Committee meeting.

·       The Chief Executive reassured Members that the Council exercised a good degree of discretion and judgement around identifying the right level to reflect risk.  There was a contractual obligation with Leicestershire County Council (LCC) and Holmes England to deliver the southern section of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (MMDR).  This increased confidence and resulted in a lower risk rating for MMDR delivery.  Work undertaken last year by the Council, in partnership with LCC colleagues was delivered successfully and the Council continued to work positively with LCC.  There were plans to commence work clearance work within months and substantive work would be undertaken towards the end of this year.  Any changes would be reflected in the risk rating.

·       Members were please about that a risk around non-compliant and inefficient housing options and homelessness prevention service had been added to the Strategic Risk Register in September and that over the past 6 months, positive and proactive action had been taken to enable improvement and change.

·       The Council’s Housing Strategy linked with the Planning Service and mechanisms were in place to ensure that the properties needed were built, rather than those of developers’ choosing.

The Chair commented that he understood the reasoning of the risk ratings for Leisure, the HRA Business Plan and the MMDR.  He reminded Members of the Committee’s role to oversee arrangements for risk management, ensuring that the correct arrangements were in place.

RESOLVED that the content of the report and the updated Strategic Risk Register and associated Risk Management Action Plan be NOTED.