Agenda item

(Director of Resources) To consider the attached report (FPM-019-2017/18).

The Director of Resources presented a report regarding the Councils Corporate Risk Register.

The Corporate Risk Register was considered by the Risk Management Group on 12 December 2017 and the minutes of that meeting were then reviewed by Management Board. These reviews identified amendments and one new risk for the Corporate Risk Register, which were updated as follows;

(a)          Risk 1 Local Plan

The risk had been updated following the Submission Version 2017 of the Local Plan being agreed by Council at the Extraordinary Meeting on 14 December 2017. The risk vulnerability had been amended to reflect the submission deadline of 31 March 2018. Controls and Required further management actions were also updated.

(b)          Risk 2 Strategic Sites

The Effectiveness of controls/actions had been amended to advise the updated position for the key sites. Construction had started at Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre and contractors were digging out the swimming pool. Marketing of the Pyrles Lane Nursery site would commence in January 2018.

(c)          Risk 4 Finance Income

The Key date had been updated to advise that the budget would be considered at the Council meeting on 22February 2018.

(d)          Risk 7 Business Continuity

The risk vulnerability had been amended to note the need for business continuity responsibilities to be updated following the re-organisation.

(e)          Risk 9 Safeguarding

The Key date had been amended to May 2018, to reflect the revised submission date for ESCB (Safeguarding Children) audit.

(f)           New Risk 11 Transformation Programme

The major programme to modernise working practices and improve efficiency had reached a key stage and would be included in the Corporate Risk Register. The Vulnerability, Triggers and Consequence along with supporting controls had been set out and the risk had been scored A1 (Very High Likelihood/Major Impact).

The Cabinet Committee advised that the risk profile for the new Risk 11, Transformation Programme was too high and should be reduced, as there was both political and officer willpower to modernise the Council. The Cabinet Committee agreed that a more appropriate risk score would be B1.

The Director of Neighbourhoods advised that the Chinese Government had indicated that they would no longer accept imports of paper and card board for recycling, which could have implications for the Council. The Waste Contractor, Biffa advised that they were currently looking for alternative markets although there was a risk share arrangement with the Council to recycle commodities and this could result in a financial loss, but the situation would be monitored. The Chairman asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, if he wished for this to be added to the Risk Register. Councillor W Breare-Hall advised that he would monitor the situation in consultation with officers, as the position was uncertain at the moment and not add it to the Risk Register. 

Resolved:

1.            That the risk Vulnerability, Controls and Management actions for Risk 1 be updated;

2.            That the Effectiveness of controls/actions for Risk 2 be updated;

3.            That the revised Key date for Risk 4 be updated;

4.            That the Vulnerability for Risk 7 be updated;

5.            That the revised Key date for Risk 9 be updated;

6.            That a new Risk 11 - Transformation Programme  be agreed and that the Vulnerability, Triggers and Consequence along with supporting controls had been set out and the risk had been scored B1 (High Likelihood/Major Impact).

Recommended:

7.            That the amended Corporate Risk Register be recommended to Cabinet for approval.

Reason for Decision:

It was essential that the Corporate Risk Register was regularly reviewed and kept up to date.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

Members could suggest new risks for inclusion or changes to the scoring of existing risks.