Issue - meetings

Members gave consideration to the 6 Month Review of Strategic Risks facing the Council as at March 2022. The Assistant Director of People and Democratic Services introduced the report and provided Members with a brief context of the updated risks and trigger points. A new risk had been introduced in this review, the ‘Inability to maintain service delivery with the amount of change initiatives’, which would be updated in the next round of reviews.

Strategic risks were considered, those faced by the Council that, if materialised, would adversely impact the delivery of corporate priorities. The approach adopted reflected the guidance provided by the Association of Local Authority Risk Managers. The body advocated that strategic risks should focus on the long-term objectives of the organisation, which could be affected by areas such as financial concerns, political risks, legal and regulatory changes and changes in the physical environment. The Governance and Audit Committee reviewed the strategic risks on a six-monthly basis.

Debate ensued and there was a discussion on the merits of including a separate climate change and sustainability risk, with a Member referencing the work of the Council in recent years. The Officer informed the Committee that further consideration would be given to this matter and the outcome reported in the next review of strategic risks report.

There was also a separate dialogue on the effects of the Council’s work on supporting other organisation’s work. This included education issues, with comments that West Lindsey District Council’s focus had to work holistically with and in partnership with others, such as local academies, Lincolnshire County Council and national administrative and policy bodies.

In response to a query about the meaning of the scores, and a request for greater clarity within the document, for example a Key, the Officer informed Members that the Risk Management Strategy was due for a review in 2023, with the Committee’s input taken into consideration in that review.

Having been moved and seconded, on being put to the vote it was unanimously

RESOLVED that having reviewed the Strategic Risk register, noting the comments made, no additional strategic risks be included; and current controls and proposed actions are considered sufficiently robust.