Agenda item

To receive an update on the risks and summary assurances presented in the Annual Corporate Risk Report.  

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Cllr D Coupar   – Executive Member

-  Tim Rollett   – Intelligence and Policy Manager

-  Andy Dodman   – Chief Officer Human Resources

-  Polly Cook   – Chief Officer Sustainable Energy and Air Quality

Tim Rollett introduced the Annual Corporate Risk Management report, which updates members on the most significant risks currently on the Council’s corporate risk register and the controls in place to manage them.

Tim noted that the Annual Corporate Risk Report was reviewed by the Executive Board at its meeting on 27 July 2022. The report includes internal, organisational risks and external risks such as flooding.

Members were asked to note that due to the changing nature of the Council’s risk environment, the rating for some risks – such as the corporate risk on workforce planning - have increased since July. 

In the context of the financial management risks, the Chair welcomed the fact that the majority of Scrutiny Board members have now attended additional training on the current challenge.

Members of the Board requested further information about how the corporate risk map is developed. It was noted that insufficient school places and housing growth are included as ‘medium risks.’ However, members suggested that due to the impact of these factors on citizens and communities they could be regarded as high risk. 

It was further suggested that the number of people currently allocated Band A on the housing register could provide evidence that a lack of affordable, quality housing is already a high risk for residents in some communities.

Similarly, members sought to understand how probability is determined on the corporate risk map - noting climate change is categorised as ‘possible’ rather than ‘probable.’

In response, officers noted that impact and probability scores are affected by the level of controls in place to manage risk. For example, the level of planned development impacts upon the categorisation of the risk of insufficient housing growth.

External risks were explored including the way in which intelligence from partners such as the police might influence the Council’s assessment of progress towards the KPIs linked to the Best City Ambition. 

Members asked for an update on progress towards the target of halving the carbon footprint from council operations to net zero by 2025.

Polly Cook responded by assuring members the Council is on track to meet the 2025 target. She provided a brief update on activity designed to decarbonise energy supplies – for example, through developing solar farms and transitioning to an electric fleet. She noted that progress to move away from gas is more challenging.

It was agreed that the Principal Scrutiny Advisor would circulate the Annual Climate Emergency Advisory Committee report, which was considered by Council in March 2022 to provide further detail about ongoing activity.

Members requested assurance that the Council is working with colleges to ensure training in construction skills reflects demands for modern methods of building.

The Chief Officer for Human Resources was invited to outline the support in place for employees affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Specifically, he was asked if the link between financial exclusion and mental health may be considered as part of the management of absence.

Andy Dodman outlined the support already in place for employees, noting that the Council’s financial wellbeing toolkit and video have also been adopted by several other anchor institutions. He noted the availability to of the employee assistance programme and an ongoing consideration of the impact of social and financial exclusion on staff.

The role of Neighbourhood Improvement Boards and Community Committees was highlighted as part of the discussion around managing a risk of escalating poverty. The Board considered whether community committees should be encouraged to target more of their available funding at those in the greatest need.

It was agreed that Cllr Scopes would write to Cllr Harland as the Executive member to reflect the Scrutiny Board’s view that community committees may want to consider a specific element of their funding being dedicated to supporting those impacted by the current cost-of-living crisis. It was suggested committees could adopt a similar model to that used during the covid-19 pandemic. 

RESOLVED:

Members agreed that:

-  The report be noted.

-  Cllr Scopes will write to Cllr Harland to reflect the Scrutiny Board’s view that community committees may want to consider a specific element of their funding being dedicated to supporting those impacted by the current cost-of-living crisis – potentially by adopting a similar model to that used during the covid-19 pandemic. 

-  The Principal Scrutiny Advisor will circulate the last annual report of the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee to Board members.