Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which provided an update on the Corporate Risk Register.

The Chief Internal Auditor presented the report indicating that the ownership of the content of the Corporate Risk Register lay with the Strategic Leadership Board and that since the last meeting there had been no new risks had been added to the Corporate Risk Register.

Three risks had been de-escalated from the Corporate Risk Register to the relevant Service Risk Registers. These risks were:

·       Gaps in understanding of community needs

·       Failure to manage historic records effectively

·       Significant impact on Service Delivery for Planning and Sefton LA

The financial sustainability risk had been updated to reflect the latest position on the economic environment which remained dynamic at present.

Some of the risks had been re-scored in accordance with the revised assessment guidance included in the Corporate Risk Management handbook which had been approved by the Committee in December 2020. A review of the Corporate Risk Handbook originally planned for June 2022 Committee had now taken place and was included in the report for Members to consider. A further review would be required to take place following the completion of the risk appetite work.

Although there had been substantial work undertaken over the past six years to embed risk management across the Council, there continued to be work required to ensure that it was consistently and effectively embedded.

Meetings had been held with Officers and Members to develop the Council’s Risk Appetite and it was expected that the formal draft definition of the Council risk appetite would be drafted later in September and refined before providing it to the Committee in due course.

The Committee received a briefing by the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services on Emergency Planning and Business Continuityand the ability of the Council to prepare and respond to a major incident under the Civil Contingencies Act; and responded to a number of questions raised by Members, including the response to the recent flood emergency in the Bootle area.

In respect of the report, a number of issues were raised, including the provision of national financial support; the financial risks associated with a housing development company; and a financial estimate for the risks to the Council associated with Impact of Cost-of-Living Crisis on Residents and Demand for Council Services.

RESOLVED: That