Issue - meetings

The Corporate Risk Register is reviewed and updated in line with the requirements of the Council’s Risk Management Framework.

Quarterly updates reflecting revisions are reported to the Audit and Governance Committee, this report highlights the changes since the last update.

It is proposed that the Committee considers and notes the revised Corporate Risk Register.

[20 Minutes]

            Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Finance and Risk Manager introduced the report. Since the Corporate Risk Register had been brought to Committee in November, the risks had been reviewed frequently by the Corporate Management Team. Appendix 3 on page 137 contained a summary of the Corporate Risk Register, which captured the changes that had taken place as a result of the review. Appendix 4 on page 138 contained the full updated Corporate Risk Register, which Members were asked to consider and note.

            The Chair reminded Members that if they had any questions regarding the exempt appendix, they would need to move into exempt business prior to that. Members then took part in a question and answer session where the following points were raised:

• Page 140 talked about resilience to staff structure and attracting and retaining staff. It was felt more should be done to accommodate young working parents such as childcare facilities or flexible working around school runs. It was asked that this be referred to the Corporate Management Team for consideration.
• There was concern about the amount of red risks on the reports, and it was asked how this compared to previous reports. The Finance and Risk Manager explained that since the new risk management framework had been introduced, they had reviewed all risks and the way risks were assessed was different to in previous reviews, so a like-for-like comparison could not be made.
• It was felt positive that page 137 showed the number of the net risk levels were mostly in amber not in red. The Finance and Risk Manager confirmed this was reflective as it took into consideration the controls that were in place.
• One Member observed that page 145 noted the risk of development being granted on appeal, and felt there was nothing Arun could do about this until the Government had ended the 5 year plan for housing. The Chair explained this was one of the reasons why a review of the Local Plan had been commenced, and it was hoped this would help to mitigate that risk.
• One Member stated he had questions that covered the exempt appendix.

            As one Member had indicated he wished to speak regarding the exempt appendix, the Chair paused discussion of this Item, which would resume following discussion of the Internal Audit Annual Report & Opinion 2022/23Item in exempt session.