Issue - meetings
2025-26 Year end report on Risk Management Governance
Meeting: 16/06/2026 - Cabinet (Item 13)
13 2025-26 YEAR END REPORT OF RISK MANAGEMENT GOVERNANCE 
PDF 130 KB
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
This report provides an update on the effectiveness of the Risk Management governance arrangements at the Council.
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That Cabinet noted the report.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That it:
(1) Note the report.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To provide assurance that the Council is effectively managing risk. The Council’s Risk Management Strategy details that this annual review should be presented to Council. Cabinet have responsibility for the management of risk.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 1 hour 35 minutes 7 seconds
The Chair invited Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham, as Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, to present the referral on this item. Councillor Poopalasingham advised that:
· There had been no overall changes to the framework since last year.
· Paragraph 7 of the report showed the risk grid, which contained seven red corporate risks for the Council.
· The two highest scoring risks were related to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and resourcing.
· The Renters Right Act was a new addition to the risk register, although this was not yet a concern and they would continue to monitor this.
· Risk related to financial sustainability should reduce due to the financial position of the Council but there was a potential risk to this from global factors and inflation.
· There were a few risks to monitor but the Committee was broadly happy with the processes in place.
In response to a question from Councillor Sean Nolan, Councillor Poopalasingham advised that the Committee had a brief discussion on the Renters Right Act, but the Committee could not comment much on this at this stage and would continue to monitor it.
In response to a question from Councillor Daniel Allen, Councillor Ian Albert advised that the Council Delivery Plan (CDP) set out what actions would be taken on Oughtonhead Common Weir such as appointing a contractor to progress with the work on this.
In response to a question from Councillor Daniel Allen, the Director – Resources advised that there was not a high level of risk in not delivering work on Oughtonhead Common Weir, but they would pick this up with the relevant service manager.
Councillor Ian Albert, as the Executive Member for Resources, presented the report entitled ‘2025-26 Year End Report on Risk Management Governance’ and advised that:
· All areas raised by the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee would be kept under review, particularly cyber risks.
· Much of the detail in the report was contained within the Appendix to the report and showed that the Council had effective procedures in place to manage and monitor risks.
· Paragraph 7.1 of the report described corporate and overarching risks.
· The table at paragraph 7.2 detailed actions that would be taken to address red risks, including the actions already completed.
· Sections 9 and 12 of the report monitored performance and training.
· Service risks and activities were outlined at various sections in the report.
· The report concluded with progress against actions and set new actions for 2026/27.
In response to a question from Councillor Donna Wright, the Director – Resources advised that it was up to Cabinet Members to determine which risks should be corporate risks, and that planning would be considered at the next Risk and Performance Management Group.
Councillor Ian Albert proposed and Councillor Sean Nolan seconded and, following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED: That Cabinet noted the report.
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That it note the report.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To provide assurance that the Council is effectively managing risk. ... view the full minutes text for item 13
Meeting: 10/06/2026 - Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Item 10)
10 2025-26 YEAR END REPORT ON RISK MANAGEMENT GOVERNANCE PDF 130 KB
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
This report provides an update on the effectiveness of the Risk Management governance arrangements at the Council.
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That the Committee commented on the Risk Management Governance update, as attached at Appendix A.
RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Cabinet refer the Risk Management Governance update to Full Council.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To provide assurance that the Council is effectively managing risk. The Council’s Risk Management Strategy details that this annual review should be presented to Council. Cabinet have responsibility for the management of risk.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 1 hour 54 minutes 55 seconds
The Director – Resources presented the report entitled ‘2025-26 Year End Report on Risk Management Governance’ and advised that:
· Appendix A to the report contained the full detail on Risk Management Governance processes.
· The Council Delivery Plan was the primary risk monitoring method, which was presented to Cabinet quarterly and to Overview and Scrutiny Committee as requested.
· A quarterly update on the Council Delivery Plan would be provided to all Members through the Members Information Bulletin (MIB).
· There were no changes to the Risk Management framework.
· Details on how risks were mapped were outlined in paragraph 6.4 of the Appendix, with the current corporate projects and corporate risks outlined at paragraph 7.1 of the Appendix.
· There were currently 2 projects in the top red risk category, with a further 5 projects with a lower red risk rating.
· There had been limited movement of risks in year, but actions had been taken and these were outlined in bold in the table in paragraph 7.2 of the Appendix.
· The report did not just consider corporate risks, but monitoring of service risks was also considered, as outlined in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the report.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Paul Ward
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Chris Lucas
In response to questions, the Director – Resources advised that:
· This report provided an end of year position, as at 31 March 2026, and there had been further reviews since this date which had resulted in a reduction in some risk scores.
· Regarding Financial Sustainability, this risk would reduce due to the improved financial settlement and decrease in pension contributions. However, there was potential for a new risk of high inflation, owing to ongoing global factors.
· Three projects – the King George V Skate Park, the Waste and Street Cleansing Contract and Engaging the Community on our Finances – had been completed since the end of year position and would be removed in the 2026/27 quarterly updates.
· The Museum Collection Facility project was adopted as a key project by Cabinet and therefore had been included as a corporate risk, but it was expected this risk would reduce as the project progressed.
· The Churchgate project was the biggest conducted by this Council and whilst the project was moving forward with ongoing engagement and work, at this stage it still needed to have a higher level of risk attached.
Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Sarah Lucas seconded and, following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED: That the Committee commented on the Risk Management Governance update, as attached at Appendix A.
RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That Cabinet refer the Risk Management Governance update to Full Council.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: To provide assurance that the Council is effectively managing risk. The Council’s Risk Management Strategy details that this annual review should be presented to Council. Cabinet have responsibility for the management of risk.