Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report by the Strategic Planning and Performance Team Leader & Strategic Planning and Performance Officer (copy enclosed) which seeks the Committee to discuss and comment on the risks, scores and controls included in the Corporate Risk Register and Council’s approach towards risk management.

10.40am – 11.10am

The Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy and Equalities, Councillor Julie Matthews introduced the report to provide an update on the Corporate Risk Register Review, September 2022.

The Corporate Risk Register was developed and owned by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Cabinet.  It was reviewed twice every year by Cabinet at Cabinet Briefing.

Following each review, the revised register was presented at Performance Scrutiny Committee, and once every year, to Corporate Governance and Audit Committee.  Officers explained each Committee’s different role and focus in relation to the Risk Register.

The Strategic Planning and Performance Officer, Emma Horan, summarised the risks within the report as follows -

·         Risk 01: The risk of a serious safeguarding or practice error, where the Council had responsibility, resulting in serious harm or death, had increased in both its inherent score (A1 – Critical Risk Almost certain / Very high impact) and residual score (A1 – Critical Risk Almost certain / Very high impact). The risk score had been increased on the basis of an assessment that the chance of this occurring was currently higher than it was previously.  Although the Council did not regard the likelihood as “almost certain to occur in most circumstances” (which was the definition of Risk Likelihood A in the authority’s risk methodology), the risk had certainly increased.  It therefore felt appropriate to increase the Risk Likelihood score, this meant increasing it from B to A.  Increasing the risk score enabled the risk to be further prioritised and escalated, which felt appropriate and necessary at this time.

It was noted that the Corporate Executive Team (CET) had undertaken a review of Risk 01.   CET were to review this risk monthly, and Cabinet would be receiving a verbal update every month at Cabinet Briefing.

·         Risk 12: The risk of a significantly negative report(s) from external regulators. The risk score had increased to C3 – Moderate Risk: Possible / Medium Impact.

·         Risk 36: The risk that the economic and financial environment worsened beyond current expectations, and had a detrimental impact on local businesses and economic hardship for the local community. The inherent and residual scores had been increased.

·         Risk 43: The risk that the Council did not have the funds or resources to meet its statutory obligations under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018. The proposal highlighted in the September 2022 review was to de-escalate this risk for it to be managed by Children’s and Education Services – had been agreed by Cabinet at Cabinet Briefing on November 14, 2022.

·         Risk 44: The risk of Ash Dieback Disease (ADB) in Denbighshire leading to significant health and safety issues that represented a potential risk to life. The risk owner was now the Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services. On the basis of better intelligence, inherent and residual risk scores had decreased (but remained outside the council’s risk appetite).

·         Risk 47: The risk that the new North Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) resulted in the Council having less influence and control at a local level.  The proposal was to de-escalate this risk for it to be managed by Service(s). The proposal highlighted in the September 2022 review - to de-escalate this risk for it to be managed by Legal, HR and Democratic Services – had been agreed by Cabinet at Cabinet Briefing on November 14, 2022.

During discussions the following points were made –

·         The cumulative impact of recruitment and retention issues in social care was significantly impacting on the Council’s ability to deliver statutory social care functions.  There was a national recruitment and retention crisis in social  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6