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Agenda item

Corporate Risk Register (Quarter 3)

Minutes:

The Chair clarified that this item is about reviewing the process of the risk register, rather than the actual financial risks themselves.

 

The Head of People and Business Change, Rhys Cornwall, presented this item. At the end of Quarter 3, the Council had 52 risks in total, 18 of which were recorded and monitored in the corporate risk register. Now, 1 of these risks has been closed, and 5 have had a change in their risk rating. The demand on the ALN and SEN team has an increase in risk rating, as well as Newport Council’s Property Estate risk. The ‘Brexit’ risk has reduced, the Education Out Of County placements have a reduced risk, and the Schools’ finance/cost pressures risk has reduced. 

 

At the last Audit Committee meeting, the risk matrix was raised, and it was expressed that the committee wanted this to be more sophisticated. There won’t be a change to this at this meeting as this is Q3, but these will be taken forward as part of the annual review of the corporate risk policy.

 

Discussions included the following:

·         Members asked if the risks of financial pressures on schools be broken down into primary and secondary. This might better highlight the figures.

o   The Head of People and Business Change replied that he would take this back to the relevant Heads of Service.

 

·         Members commented, in reference to page 35 of the report, that there are continually changing circumstances in the risk register. How frequently is the risk measurement level updated, as the risk level constantly changes?

o   The Head of People and Business Change explained that, within each service area, a whole range of risks are being dealt with, many of which are dealt with on a day-to-day basis. The formal review and update takes place on a quarterly basis. This risk rating represents a snapshot in time from that quarter. It is a constantly moving process, but as part of the governance process this reflects a snapshot of the information.

o   The Performance and Research Business Partner, Paul Flint, added that the management information hub is used to record all of the risks from service areas. Officers can use this system to update their own risk scores. All service area risks are then considered, to ensure that the risk rating is correct and reflects the right score. Management will then consider risks that either need to be escalated or closed. In Q3, an example of when this happened was the housing risk, where two risks which were amalgamated to reflect the true level of risk in the service area.

 

·         Members asked if we assess risk across other councils, and if so does this have an impact on the risk rating in our own Council?     

o   The Head of People and Business Change replied using the example of cyber security. The Council will consider what is happening in other areas, innovative practice, risk they have etc. However, regardless of those issues, that does not lessen or increase our own personal risk. With cyber security, we are ahead of the curve in Newport, but it is still a significant risk. We do look at other LAs, but this doesn’t impact upon our own risks.

o   Members agreed that individual LAs will identify vulnerabilities, this can have an effect on other places but this is still mostly held within the LA itself.

Agreed:

Audit Committee considered the contents of this report and assessed the risk management arrangements for the Authority, providing any additional commentary/ recommendations to Cabinet.

 


Supporting documents: