Agenda item

Minutes:

Members considered a report outlining the strategic risks facing the Authority as at January 2021.

 

The Corporate Policy and Governance Manager introduced the report, and highlighted the following points:

 

·         ‘Risk Managers’ were asked to score their risks at their current state and determine the desirable level of risk for each topic.  This methodology had been agreed by the Governance and Audit Committee in 2020;

 

·         Covid-19 continued to have an impact on Council operations.  It had not been reflected as a risk in its own right; rather it had been reflected in each individual risk where applicable;

 

·         Brexit continued to be a risk, although it had not been disproportionately referred to within the report as some of its impacts had now been addressed.  Three areas related to Brexit remained as risks:

o   Hold ups at ports and the impact on road networks;

o   Data handling;

o   Procurement related matters.

 

On this last area, the committee were informed that the Authority’s procurement arrangements were adequate for the immediate future.

 

Members then asked questions of officers.  Further information was highlighted:

 

·         Although there are lots of areas that could potentially be risk factors, not all of them are under the direct influence of West Lindsey District Council;

 

·         The schools educational programme on recycling was due to be completed by November 2022; this would have more traction if schools were more accessible.  The Environment and Sustainability Working Group were investigating these issues, and the work would be started as soon as practicably possible;

 

·         It was part of ongoing risk management to keep abreast of local issues related to health and wellbeing and the climate.

 

As a risk, the climate was similar to Covid-19 as it touched so many of the Authority’s operations.  In the future, it could become a risk in its own right; this would avoid it being diluted by being filtered through other risks;

 

·         Although there were initiatives mentioned in the report specific to Gainsborough, it was important not to forget the rest of the District;

 

·         On the issue of housing improvement, the addition of a survey of current disused housing may be appropriate;

 

·         When officers look at risks they look at the impact on the Corporate Plan objectives.  It was important for the Authority to keep its guard against disinformation, as it was very much being seen at a local level. 

 

Trusted sources were used to gather information, such as the Census and the State of the District report.

 

Note:   Councillor David Dobbie joined the meeting at 1446.

 

·         There was a difference between strategic, and operational risks.  Operational risks were managed at a lower level in the organisation, whereas strategic risks were those faced by the Council as a whole.  Should an operational risk escalate in nature then it would be reflected within the strategic risks.

 

The paper was then moved, seconded, and following a vote it was unanimously RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  Note the report and be satisfied that any additional risks of a strategic nature had been identified by Members;

 

(2)  Be assured that current risk management controls and proposed actions were sufficiently robust.

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