Issue - meetings

Councillor A.C. Harman

To consider the recommendation from the Audit Committee held on 25 July 2019 on the Corporate Risk Register.

Cabinet considered the recommendation of the Audit Committee and

Resolved to approve the revised Corporate Risk Register.

To note the report by the Internal Audit Manager and recommend the Corporate Risk Register to Cabinet for approval.

The Internal Audit Manager presented her report on the Corporate Risk Register.  The Corporate Risk Register identifies significant risks to the Council and how these are managed and monitored.

The Committee were informed that positive progress had been made in a number of areas although some actions had not been fully implemented or were ongoing. There were no risk categories with a red status. The Internal Audit Manager outlined the most significant risks and advised of steps being taken to mitigate these. 

Questions tabled by the Committee in advance of the meeting, and officers’ responses, were circulated and are attached as an appendix to these minutes.

Although the Committee were appreciative of the speed and detail provided by officers to the questions they raised; they expressed dissatisfaction at the failure of some officers to provide information for the Corporate Risk Register within the timeframe requested and would monitor this in future.

Serious concerns were expressed regarding the procurement risk.  The Internal Audit Manager advised that an internal review had recently taken place and was referenced in the report.  The Committee requested that their concerns were passed to the Chief Executive and Head of Corporate Governance.

The Committee noted the addition of the environmental risk and requested that all relevant information is given to the Internal Audit Manager by the relevant Service area (Neighbourhood Services) for the next review of the register to assist in identifying whether any further risk mitigating actions are required.

The Committee resolved to note the contents of the Corporate Risk Register and recommended it to Cabinet for approval subject to the above comments.