Agenda item

The Committee heard from the Monitoring Officer who introduced the report, it was explained that the purpose of the report was to present the Council's strategic risks as at March 2025. It was stated that the Committee reviewed these risks on a quarterly basis and Members were asked to consider whether any additional risks existed and whether the proposed controls and actions were sufficiently robust. An overview of the risk themes were given, and it was noted that since the last report, one new risk had been added titled OV6, which pertained to an inability to deliver the Council's strategic priorities.

A Member of the Committee raised a concern regarding the recent issue of international trade tariffs. They were highlighted as a potential future strategic risk due to their ability to substantially impact global trade. In response, the Interim S151 Officer discussed the financial implications of the tariffs policy, noting the difficulty in drawing firm conclusions due to the changing landscape. The Officer stated that potential long-term impacts included increased costs for imported goods and services, and possible effects on interest rates and the pension fund's triennial review. It was stated that due to the timing of the tariffs, they were unlikely to impact on the valuations at the balance sheet dated 31 March 2025. The Chief Executive added that tariffs may not appear as a standalone strategic risk, but could trigger other risks such as inflation, cost increases, or supply difficulties. The importance of monitoring these developments as part of the quarterly review of strategic risks was emphasised.

A question was asked by a Member of the Committee regarding the timing of the strategic risk updates in light of risk OV6. In response, the Chief Executive highlighted that rather than trying to recreate an Executive Business Plan, the Council were focussed on priorities given to them by the Administration and arising from the Peer Challenge, on a programme-by-programme basis. Any work still outstanding by June or July 2025, it was emphasised, would form part of a Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Delivery Plan. The plan would focus on the next three years and was anticipated to be ready by November 2025. It was highlighted that risk OV6, which pertained to an inability to deliver the Council's strategic priorities, should reduce in the coming months.

A Member of the Committee questioned which Committee was responsible for reviewing the LGR Delivery Plan. Responding to the question, the Chief Executive assured the Committee that the upcoming commentary with the Forward Plan could be available for 12 May 2025, to give Members an indication of upcoming priorities. It was stated that the Committee responsible for reviewing the LGR Delivery Plan was the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee. The Chief Executive noted that the current Executive Business Plan still existed in draft form and would be used until other plans were formed in its place.

In response to a concern about the continuity involved in the upcoming plans, the Chairman emphasised the importance of the Governance and Audit Committee receiving a regular review of upcoming plans and their development.  It was agreed that verbal progress updates would be provided on an ongoing basis through the Matters Arising item on the Committee agenda, until the LGR Delivery Plan had been fully developed. This approach would ensure that the latest information was shared without the need for additional written reports, whilst still preparing and updating the Committee on progress.

Concerns were expressed by the Chairman about the public's lack of interest in LGR and the risk involved in future uncertainty. It was emphasised that the Council’s IT systems and the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP) were valuable tools and should not be dismissed, even amidst uncertainty.

A Committee Member commented on the removal of the Executive Business Plan. It was stated that the budget had been based on this plan, and its removal had triggered questions. It was suggested that a new plan should have been developed concurrently with the old one to ensure a smooth transition.

A Member of the Committee then commented on the dangers of AI, particularly the risk of fraudulent and fake representations, with the need for robust protections against such threats emphasised. Officers acknowledged that keeping records and archives of meetings was important to counteract AI manipulation; as such, the IT department was actively developing solutions, though no definitive answer existed yet. The Monitoring Officer stated that regular updates and cyber security messages were being sent to staff to keep abreast of developments. It was suggested by a Member of the Committee that regular updates be provided to Members to ensure they were aware of the dangers and how to counteract them.

Finally, a point was raised regarding disparities in the quality and level of auditing experienced by other Lincolnshire partners. It was noted by the Chairman that this issue should be discussed with the Internal Audit Team.

With no further comments or questions, and having been moved, seconded and voted upon, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the register had been reviewed with the existence of any additional risks of a strategic nature and the robustness of current controls and proposed actions considered.