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Agenda item

Corporate Risk Register

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services as contained on pages 235 to 252 of the Book of Reports, which provided an update on the Council's Risk Management Framework.

 

The Risk and Insurance officer informed that it is now standard practice to present the report to Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet every 6 months.  She went on to explain that all staff have been offered 'Risk Management / Pentana' training, which is also available on the intranet for staff that were unable to attend.  The training now forms part of an employee's mandatory induction process.

 

In discussion, Members expressed that they would like to receive future copies of the staff magazine 'Risk Roundup' on risk management and agreed that it be circulated by e-mail to all Members.

 

She also informed that a 'Horizon Scanning Workshop' would be held in October, this will consist of an initial survey, following with workshop to discuss the findings.  It was also noted that risk management is a standard item at quarterly DMT meetings.

 

She detailed the three new risks added to the register, 'Failure or Prolonged loss of ICT', 'Failure to Deliver Skelmersdale Town Centre Phase 1', and 'Not agreeing on and delivering a sustainable and affordable leisure provision'.  It was also explained how the risks have been rescored using the new Corporate 4 x 4 risk matrix which helps to 'force decision'.

 

She explained that there was a typing error on page 249 of the report in relation to 'Achieving a balanced GRA - The new vision is to be financially stable by the end of 2024' and that this should read by the end of 2023. She informed Members that this would be amended on the internal risk information system accordingly.

 

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

 

A Member raised a question in respect of the risk 'Failure to deliver Skelmersdale Town Centre phase 1 retail development' in respect of the internal control column not reflecting that a report will be submitted to Council in October in respect of the costs/progress versus original business case.  Also, a further question was raised in respect of the impact being rated as 'low'.

 

The Risk and Insurance Officer responded and confirmed that the 'risk owner' will update the internal controls and impact to reflect the comments in the report being submitted to Council in October.

 

Questions were also raised in respect of the risk 'Failure for Tawd Valley Developments to deliver the Business Plan agreed by Council' in respect of an understanding as to why the risk is reported as 'concerned' and based on the current 1 year period as opposed to the 5 year plan.  The Committee requested an explanation for the 'concerned' score for this risk.

 

It was confirmed that the ‘risk owner’ had been unable to attend the meeting and members present expressed disappointment at this. The Risk and Insurance Officer offered to contact the 'risk owner' to formulate a response for Members of the Committee in respect of this.

 

A motion to request that the Risk Management Framework & Corporate Risk Report be presented to the next Audit & Governance Committee and that the 'risk owner' of 'Failure for Tawd Valley Developments to deliver the Business Plan agreed by Council' be invited to attend the meeting, was moved and seconded.

 

An Amendment to the motion was moved and seconded as follows:

"That the Risk Management Framework & Corporate Risk Report be presented to the next Audit & Governance Committee and that the 'risk owners' of all the risks rated as 'concerned' under the current risk assessment score be invited to attend the meeting."

 

A Vote was taken, the Amendment was LOST

 

A vote was taken on the Motion, which was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

A.      That the progress made in relation to the management of risks shown in the Corporate Risk Register (Appendix B) be noted and endorsed subject to B. below.

 

B.      That the Risk Management Framework & Corporate Risk Report be presented to the next Audit & Governance Committee and that the 'risk owner' of 'Failure for Tawd Valley Developments to deliver the Business Plan agreed by Council' be invited to attend the meeting.

 

C.      That future copies of the staff magazine 'Risk Round Up' on risk management be circulated by e-mail to all Members.

 

(Note: The Chairman requested in agreement with the Committee that the order of business be varied to allow agenda items 13 and 14 to be heard prior to the Planning related items at agenda items 10,11 and 12).

 

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