Agenda item

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introducing the Annual Corporate Risk Management Report presented to the Executive Board at its meeting on 17 July 2017.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report that introduced the Annual Corporate Risk Management Report and Grenfell Tower Update, considered by the Executive Board at its meeting on 17 July 2017.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Councillor James Lewis (Executive Member for Strategy and Resources); and,

·  Neil Evans (Director – Strategy and Resources).

Introducing the information, the Executive Member outlined the purpose of the report was to outline the Councils approach to identifying significant corporate risks for inclusion on the corporate risk register.  The report outlined the following areas of risk:

·  Safeguarding children

·  Safeguarding adults

·  Health and safety

·  City resilience

·  Council resilience

·  Financial management (both the risk to the in-year budget and longer-term financial sustainability)

·  Information safeguarding

·  Major cyber incident

It was highlighted that, with the exception of (a) Safeguarding children and (b) Safeguarding adults, all other areas of identified corporate risk fell within the remit of the Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources) and may also be worthy of detailed consideration. 

In terms of city resilience, the Executive Member made reference to the City response to Storm Eva.

Specific reference was also made to recent incidents which had and continued to attracted high levels of public concern and national responses, including the Grenfell Tower incident; the terror events at Manchester Arena; and recent cyber security incidents.  The Boards attention was also drawn to the Grenfell Tower Update report presented to the Executive Board at its meeting on 17 July 2017.

The Scrutiny Board discussed the identified risks, assurance and assurance framework in detail.  Some specific issues highlighted and discussed in detail included:

·  IT system upgrades due to cyber security vulnerabilities and testing arrangements.

·  Physical security of off-site system back-up facilities.

·  Data security training for officers and members and the appointment of a data protection officer.

·  Building security, with specific reference to the Civic Hall, security levels (including staff awareness) and escorting/ supervision of visitors.

·  Building evacuation procedures and testing.

·  Approaches for identifying, assessing and including risks associated with ‘Brexit’.

·  The grading / assessment of risks – including clarification around the anticipated duration of disputation arising from specific risks.

·  Specific details in relation to the 78 services identified as the most critical.

·  Collaboration with other authorities through the West Yorkshire Resilience Forum.

·  Dealing with violence and aggressive behaviour, including specific targeting through social media. 

The Scrutiny Board also gave specific consideration to the Grenfell Tower Update report presented to the Executive Board at its meeting on 17 July 2017.  Some of the specific points raised and discussed included:

·  The Council’s positive approach in responding to the issues arising from the Grenfell Tower incident, including stakeholder involvement and responding to community concerns.

·  The devastating impact of the Grenfell Tower incident being caused by catastrophic building failure.

·  The role of the Fire Authority in issuing Fire Certificates for buildings and powers to force building closure.

·  The potential impact of and challenge to the ‘stay put policy’ in place at Grenfell Tower. 

·  The annual incidence of fires affecting Council high-rise properties being between 12 and 20. 

·  The potential risks associated with full building evacuation in an emergency situation.

·  The potential for new national guidelines following the outcome of the Grenfell Public Inquiry.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That, as part of the ongoing prioritisation of the post-Grenfell work, the Executive Board’s request for the Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources) to scrutinise relevant actions and emerging issues in relation to emergency planning, be agreed.

(b)  That the information presented in the reports and discussed at the meeting, be noted.

(c)  That further consideration of matter identified by the Scrutiny Board be considered as part of the Board’s ongoing work schedule.