Agenda item

To receive the annual refresh of the Corporate Risk Register

(Item 8 – Report of the Leader and Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Audit and Transformation, Mr Paul Carter and Corporate Director for Strategic and Business Services, David Cockburn)

Cabinet received a report containing for consideration the refreshed Corporate Risk Register.  The register was refreshed to reflect key themes which had arisen from meetings with Corporate and Directorate Management Teams and Cabinet Members during the autumn held for that purpose.

Richard Hallett, Head of Business Intelligence returned to the table.  He thanked Directors and Cabinet Members for their involvement in the process; in addition the draft refresh document had been subject to consideration by Cabinet Committees which had been helpful.

He reported the main changes as set out in the report:

      I.        CRR 14 relating to procurement risk had been broadened to reflect key considerations relating to the development of KCC as a Strategic Commissioning Authority. The risk now also incorporated elements of the Governance & Internal Control risk (CRR 7) particularly the importance of ensuring governance arrangements kept pace with any changes to operating models. As a result CRR7 had been closed.

    II.        CRR17 relating to the future operating environment for local government now explicitly referenced the scale of the financial challenge, with the 2015 – 2018 medium term financial picture included.

   III.        The level of risk for CRR9 relating to the Better Care Fund (previously known as Integration Transformation Fund) had been raised from ‘Amber’ to ‘Red’ following the announcement of changes to funding arrangements, which had the potential to impact on the level of funding available for social care initiatives that promote independence. This risk was now considered to have once again reduced and was therefore returned to ‘Amber’

  IV.        CRR 10 relating to the management of social care demand had been separated into adults and children’s services risks, to reflect the different drivers of demand and consequent differences in required controls.

   V.        CRR 18; a medium level risk relating to the Public Sector Network Code of Compliance (CoCo) information security standards was added early in 2014, as the government took a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to compliance. KCC had since achieved compliance with the code, although there were still potential effects on KCC objectives that would need to be monitored and managed.

  VI.        CRR 19 relating to the introduction of the Care Act, discussed previously, presented a number of opportunities and risks, believed to be significant enough to warrant a new individual entry.  A programme plan had been devised and was being undertaken ahead of the implementation of the Act.

 VII.        A new risk had been added as a result of the Banking Reform Act, and this would be reflected shortly in the Treasury Management Strategy.

Mr Gibbens, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, welcomed the inclusion of safeguarding as a high risk on the register.  He reported that the number of alerts relating to safeguarding had increased and that this showed a greater level of awareness and understanding at KCC.

Mr Dance, Cabinet Member for Economic Development commented on CRR3 relating to access to resource to aid economic growth and enable infrastructure. He talked of the difficulties in encouraging building in the east of the county and the related need for infrastructure improvements.

It was RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.