To consider the status of the council’s corporate risk register in order to monitor the effectiveness of risk management within the Performance, Risk and Opportunity Management framework.

The chairperson welcomed the director for children and families to the meeting who was in attendance to answer questions in connection with the children and families risk registers.

The head of corporate performance presented the report and highlighted:

·         The risk registers were as at 30 June 2020.

·         The Covid-19 risk register had been included.

·         The draft risk management plan was attached for the committee’s comments as it was due to be presented to Cabinet in September 2020 for approval. 

·         Three new risk had been added and details were contained within the agenda pack for the meeting.

·         There was an error on the heat map contained within the report as CRR36 had been included instead of being removed.

In the committee’s discussion on the item, the following points were raised:

·         Cabinet were potentially looking at a further £5m to £10m from government on top of the funding which had already been received.   The council had received just over £13m from government but were waiting for details of the support in connection with lost income.    Assumptions had been made in connection with cost implications in the future.   It was confirmed that there were a range of reserves in place which could fund these budget pressures.   There would be more detail contained within the quarter 2 budget and performance report which would be considered by Cabinet.

·         It was confirmed that public health budget was a ringfenced budget for that area.   £840k had been received as part of a Covid-19 grant which was being used as part of the council’s response to the pandemic.    Details of this grant would be included in the quarter 2 report to Cabinet.

·         It was noted that for the high level risks, there appeared to be no change in the mitigation actions.  It was acknowledged that further work could be done in connection with this to ensure that there were Specific, Measureable, Attainment, Realistic Targets (SMART) as part of the mitigation.

·         It was noted that for five risks, there had been an increase in the risk score but very little detail about the increase or any resultant actions to be taken.   It would be useful to the committee if details of why the risk or mitigation had changed could be included.

·         It was confirmed that management board do review the risk registers on a regular basis.  In the children and families directorate, the risk registers were reviewed on a monthly basis.  It was acknowledged that some risks did appear to be longstanding but that was because the directorate were living with longstanding risks.   Using the Human Rights Act (HRA) risk as an example, the register acknowledged that there had been cases in the past but there may be cases in the future so it was appropriate to reflect this on the risk register.   

·         With regard to the children and families’ risk in connection of an overspend against planned budget with regard to placements, this was a significant budget pressure but there were a range of mitigating actions in process  ...  view the full minutes text for item 455