Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

To provide the Committee with an update on risk management, including the Annual Report on Risk Management for 2021-22.

RESOLVED: That the Committee notes the Annual Report on Risk Management.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)       That Cabinet agrees the introduction of a new Corporate Risk relating to Council Resourcing.

(2)       That Cabinet notes the Annual Report on Risk Management before referral to Full Council.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)       The responsibility for ensuring the management of risks is that of Cabinet.

(2)       This Committee has responsibility to monitor the effective development and operation of Risk Management.

Audio Recording – 44:42

The Service Director – Resources presented the report entitled Annual Report on Risk Management and Risk Management Update and drew attention to points including:

·                This report had been seen by the Risk Management Group to which all members of FAR and O&S had a standing invite, along with core risk and finance officers, service managers, SIAS and the health and safety advisory group;

·                The introduction of a new corporate risk relating to Council resourcing related to a range of challenges placing pressure on Council resources including the war in Ukraine, increased fuel prices and the cost of living; staff resources due to additional work taken on like accommodation checks and the provision of energy rebate payments combined with rising costs due to inflation presented a risk that the objectives of the Council Plan would not be achieved due to the increased financial pressure;

·                This report was the last to be presented to FAR in this format was the new risk management arrangements would come into effect for the next quarter.

Councillor Sean Nolan asked if additional funding from central government was available and whether the Council could secure it to mitigate the risk caused by increased pressure on staffing resources.

The Service Director – Resources advised that if government required extra work extra funding was provided but that it couldn’t be guaranteed at this stage if that funding would match costs, and furthermore that the availability of funds does not always mean more staff are available to meet demand, e.g environmental health officers were in short supply and funding from central government would not increase the pool of available trained members of staff.

Councillor Terry Hone proposed, Councillor Phil Weeder seconded and on the vote it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee notes the Annual Report on Risk Management.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)       That Cabinet agrees the introduction of a new Corporate Risk relating to Council Resourcing.

(2)       That Cabinet notes the Annual Report on Risk Management before referral to Full Council.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)       The responsibility for ensuring the management of risks is that of Cabinet.

(2)       This Committee has responsibility to monitor the effective development and operation of Risk Management.