The Strategic Director Corporate Services will submit a report (Document “Z”) which provides an outline of the purpose, objectives and developments in the Council’s approach to risk management.

Recommended –

(1)       That the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny             Committee of the 11^th January 2017 are implemented by the 30^th      June 2018.

(2)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee considers an             improvement plan which incorporates the following features:

(i)            That the Risk Coordinator Network is refreshed with all Directors required to nominate key managers within their service as the Risk Coordinator for their Department.

(ii)          That monthly reports are tabled at CMT, identifying progress made on the identification and recording of departmental risks. This should include applying any developments to the Council’s risk management process.

(iii)         Covalent is to be used for the recording of all risks across the Council including the Council Plan Delivery Programme risks.

(iv)         Quarterly Risk Management reports to be produced for CMT and the Executive.

The Strategic Director Corporate Services submitted a report (Document “Z”) which provided an outline of the purpose, objectives and developments in the Council’s approach to risk management.

The Head of Internal Audit explained that work to update the strategic and departmental risk registers was on going, however despite small levels of additional resource being allocated, progress was still slow and there had been limited opportunity to share their contents with Portfolio Holder and Scrutiny Committees.

During the discussion, a Member stated that the report was vague and ascertained if elements of the risk register were discussed with the relevant portfolio holder and were these discussions recorded in any way.  In response it was explained that this was not always happening, and that additional work was required to improve reporting arrangements.

In relation to a question regarding individual service areas, the Head of Internal Audit explained that Department of Place had an up to date risk register, however a number of the other service areas were lagging behind and work was on going to try and ensure compliance.

In response to a question regarding the overall risks facing the Council, it was explained that the risks faced by the Council had been quite stable over a number of years, and that the Council was aware of them and systems were in place to deal with them.

In response to the costs associated with using the Covalent system to record risk, it was explained that these costs were minimal, however the advantage would be that one point of recording would give a full picture of the risk environment.

In response to a number of concerns raised by Members in relation to timescales and the process for ensuring departmental risk registers were brought up to date, it was stressed that risk management activities were taking place across all Council departments, what was not in place was a systematic reporting arrangement or methodology for recording risk and this piece of work had to be undertaken.

A Member pressed officers to identify the crux of the issue and what was really causing delays in compiling the risk register; was it Audit’s ability to work with departments or delays with departments understanding and recognising the importance of completing the risk register. In response it was stressed that all the necessary preparatory training had been undertaken with departmental service managers, the issue was one of compliance.

Members were in agreement that progress in this area had to be fast tracked as a matter of urgency and it was therefore:

Resolved –

(1)       That the recommendations of the Corporate Overview and          Scrutiny Committee of the 11^th January 2017 be implemented by the 30^th June 2018.

(2)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee considers an             improvement plan which incorporates the following features:

(i)            That the Risk Coordinator Network is refreshed with all Directors required to nominate key managers within their service as the Risk Coordinator for their Department.

(ii)          That monthly reports are tabled at CMT, identifying progress made on the identification and recording of departmental risks. This should include applying any developments to the Council’s risk management process.

(iii)         Covalent is to be used for the recording of all risks across the Council including the Council Plan Delivery Programme risks.

(iv)         Quarterly Risk Management reports to be produced for CMT, Executive and the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(3)       That this Committee requests that the Executive ensures that    Portfolio Holders review and develop Departmental Risk Registers in their respective areas of responsibility.

(4)       That a further progress report be presented in 6 months time and         request that all Strategic Directors attend.

ACTION:       City Solicitor (Resolution 1 referral to Executive)

                        All Strategic Directors (Resolution 2)