Agenda item

The Leader provided an update of the Council’s Corporate Risk Register for the end of Quarter 4 (1 January 2023 to 31 March 2023).

Cabinet Members were asked to consider the contents of this report and the monitoring of these risks in the Corporate Risk Register.

The Council’s Risk Management Policy and Corporate Risk Register enabled the administration and officers to effectively identify, manage and monitor risks which could prevent the Council from achieving strategic priorities and undertake statutory duties as a local authority.

The Quarter 4 risk report would also be presented to the Council’s Governance and Audit Committee later this month to review the Council’s risk management process and governance arrangements.

At the end of Quarter 4 Newport City Council had 45 risks recorded across the Council’s eleven service areas.

Those risks deemed to pose the most significant risk in the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan and services were escalated to the Council’s Corporate Risk Register for monitoring. 

At the end of Quarter 3, 14 risks were recorded in the Corporate Risk Register.

·        8 Severe Risks (15 to 25).

·        6 Major Risks (7 to 14).

In comparison to Quarter 3, there was one risk, Eliminate Profit from Social Care which was escalated from Children Services:

o    The Council was commencing a significant programme of work to support the Welsh Government’s policy to eliminate profit from Children’s social care. 

o    In response, the Council saw providers withdrawing from the market which meant the Council was having to make placements with practices ‘operating without registration’ which was a criminal offence under the Social Services Act. 

o    The Council was fully aware of the risk and agreed this was a corporate risk.  The Council was working very hard with providers, Care Inspectorate Wales, and other partners to ensure children were being looked after with the best providers for their needs. 

One risk, Ash Dieback disease was also de-escalated from the Corporate Risk Register to the Environment and Public Protection risk register at the end of Quarter 4.

o    Following the identification and assessment of Ash Dieback disease across Newport, the Council took immediate action to remove trees with Ash Dieback from high-risk areas.

o    Funding allocated by the Council was also used to replace the trees removed, ensuring its ecological commitment was met to protect and enhance Newport’s environment.

o    The service area would continue to monitor and report against this risk and the work to remove infected trees and its replacement programme.

The Risk Report also showed two risks in relation to the stability of social services providers and pressure on adult services improving since Quarter 3. 

o    Both risk scores decreased from 25 to 20 at the end of Quarter 4.

o    The Stability of Social Services providers with adult services saw improvements to the flow of brokered packages of care. 

o    Provider services however remained in a precarious position and the Council continued to monitor the situation closely in 2023/24.

o    The pressure on adult services also improved following the recruitment to key posts within the service.  It was important that support for social workers and supporting officers within social services continued as they provided a pivotal role to safeguard the most vulnerable residents and carers in Newport.

The remaining 12 risks were reported with the same risk score as quarter three.

To conclude, Cabinet colleagues, were asked to agree the contents of the Corporate Risk Register (Quarter 4), to continue monitoring of these risks and the actions being taken to address the risks identified in the report.

Comments of Cabinet Members:

§  Councillor Marshall highlighted the difficulties experienced within Childrens Services, which was a challenging environment.  Managers provided the best possible care for children and with that in mind, the Cabinet Member for Social Services (Children) wanted to thank staff for everything they did to support children.

§  Councillor Davies referred to the school finances in the amber position and the risk increase in relation to budgets, and emphasised that it was a key responsibility for everyone involved to support schools with their financial decisions. Councillor Davies went on to say that the demand for ALN and SEN support remained a focus as these needs were increasing.  Councillor Davies felt that these issues were being addressed and gave an example of this in the recent expansion at Ysgol Bryn Derw, which was specifically set up for children with ASD.  Councillor Davies also commented on the new ALN provision to be opened soon at Llanwern School in the Autumn. Councillor Davies was assured that these issues were being addressed, however, out of school placements remained a concern. Overall, these risks would be constantly monitored.

§  Councillor Harvey echoed Councillor Marshall’s comments in relation to staff working very hard. With regard to the out of county placements, this was out of the Council’s control as a judge in a courtroom would have to make this decision.

§  Councillor Hughes also highlighted that the decisions and pressures that teams were under was mainly due to external pressures.

Decision:

That Cabinet considered the contents of the quarter four update of the Corporate Risk Register.