To provide an update on the status of corporate risks at the end of Quarter 2 2025/26 (September 2025) and provide assurance that risks are being managed effectively across the council.

ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for finance and corporate services introduced the report. The revised Corporate Risk Register were approved by Cabinet in June September [correction] 2025 and included 9 corporate risks. At Quarter 2, no additional risks had been identified for inclusion in the Corporate Risk Register.  Changes to risk scores were summarised.

Risk 4 - Failure to deliver capital and major projects within identified resources and planned timeframes resulting in significant overspend and reduced project outcomes. The risk score was updated to 12 at Quarter 2.

Risk 5 - Failure to deliver a sustainable financial strategy that supported delivery of the Council Plan priorities (Including delivery of savings, commercial income, capital receipts and ensuring resources are available to deliver statutory obligations and fund organisational development and transformation). The risk score was updated to 12 at Quarter 2. This recognised the impact of risks to the council’s financial sustainability as a result of the Fair Funding Review and increasing demand and cost pressures.

The council’s 2025/26 Internal Audit Plan was reviewed to ensure it was aligned to the refreshed Risk Strategy and risks identified in the Corporate Risk Register. The revised Plan was approved by Audit & Governance Committee in September 2025.

Attention was drawn to corporate Risk 3, ‘lack of local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, SEND placement provision to meet current and future demands’.  This had a very high status and mitigating actions showed how the council was dealing with this challenging issue. 

Comments from cabinet members.  It was clarified that given recent weather ‘risk of weather’ would be kept under an open review.   

Group leaders gave the views of their groups.  Congratulations were extended to the section 151 officer for sharpening up this process.  Noted there was a spilt responsibility between process (Audit and Governance) and scrutinising the content (scrutiny committees and cabinet members to review the risks in their areas). Assurance was sought that cabinet members were actively involved in the management and mitigation of the risks below the top-level corporate risks on a service level.  Assurances were also sought that the directorate and service level risks were being shared with the scrutiny committees. 

It was noted that Risk 3 sat across DSG and SEND transport but there was only one overall scoring, it was raised whether these should be separated.   

Also, assurance was sought that risks at service level were being shared with scrutiny committees. 

In response to group leaders, it was confirmed that cabinet members were briefed as relevant regarding risks in their areas. 

Noted there were 9 risks, as these were the risks that could threaten the delivery of the Council Plan priorities. Regarding the DSG risk, it was confirmed that more detail can be added regarding the controls in place.

The operational and risk registers could be made available to any scrutiny panel member which could, in turn, inform their work programme. 

Councillor Stoddart proposed the recommendations, and it was unanimously resolved that:

That Cabinet:

a)    Approves the updates to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9