Agenda item

1.     The item was presented by the Head of Risk and Delivery Assurance, Mark Scrivener.  Some of the key points were as follows:

        a)     The Register had recently been presented to Cabinet and highlighted that several risk ratings had changed since that meeting, reflecting its nature as a point?in?time document.

        b)     Two additional appendices had been provided to support the Committee’s assurance role:

                                               i.     A summary of directorate?level risks      

                                              ii.     Examples of Member?level committees where corporate risks were discussed in further depth.

        c)     A draft corporate risk relating to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) was being refined and would be considered by the March Devolution and LGR Committee.

        d)     The annual review of the Risk Management Policy, Strategy and Programme would be presented to the Committee in March.

2.     In answer to some Member questions and comments, the following was

        said:

        a)     Mr Scrivener confirmed that he would raise the planned changes, associated financial risks and potential appeals in relation to the discretionary SEND support for over?16 and over?19 learners from September with the relevant risk owner and ensure the matter was considered in future reporting.

        b)     In relation to the Adult Social Care risks, Mr Scrivener advised that relevant issues had been discussed in other committee settings and that detailed responses would fall to servicelevel officers. He confirmed that the broader risk picture would continue to be monitored.

        c)     Members raised several points regarding the absence of a transitional reserve for LGR and related financial and capacity risks. These comments were noted for further consideration through the relevant committees.

        d)     The Director of Infrastructure, Rebecca Spore, confirmed that:

                the Council operated a reactive warm?safe?dry maintenance regime,

temporary or full closures could occur where resources were insufficient; and statutory compliance inspections were carried out across the estate. She noted the ongoing challenge of maintenance backlogs.

        e)     Members were reminded that the budget remained in draft form.

        f)      Mr Scrivener explained that CRR0059 had been updated to reflect in?year financial monitoring and CRR009 had been adjusted in light of increased certainty arising from a multi?year settlement. He confirmed that further review would take place with the Section 151 Officer.

        g)     In relation to CRR065 Oracle Cloud Programme, Mr Scrivener advised that the primary risk being scored related to the implementation of an unfit system and officers remained committed to avoiding this. Consideration would be given to whether additional or separate risks concerning delay or cost escalation were appropriate.

        h)     It was proposed and seconded that a summary project tracker for the

                Oracle Cloud Programme, covering time, cost, and quality, be

                developed and brought to the Committee, and that the detailed format

                and reporting expectations for this tracker be agreed at the next

      agenda?setting meeting. The Committee voted accordingly and the

      motion was passed.

        i)      Directorate?level risks would receive further scrutiny at upcoming Cabinet Committees and Members’ comments relevant to the budget would be captured and forwarded to Cabinet as part of pre?Council briefing processes.

        j)      Trigger points for asset degradation were not a precise threshold, as the Council was already operating a reactive model and responded as required to maintain safety.

        k)     In line with the Council’s no?borrowing policy, the Accounting Programme was funded from existing sources without drawing on new borrowing.

        l)      In relation to Climate Change Risk CRR052, Mr Scrivener agreed to raise this with the responsible risk owner for further consideration.

        m)    Mr Rayner referred to Safety Valve Agreement (paragraph 2.5 of report) and highlighting the projected DSG accumulated deficit of approximately £135m by the end of 2025/26 and an in?year deficit in excess of £65m. He stressed the significance of this risk to the Council’s financial position and requested that his comments be formally noted.

3.     RESOLVED that the Governance and Audit Committee requested that a

        summary project tracker for the Oracle Cloud Programme, covering time,

        cost, and quality, be developed and brought to the Committee, and that

        the detailed format and reporting expectations for this tracker be agreed at

        the next appropriate agenda?setting meeting.

        RESOLVED the Committee noted the Corporate Risk Register for

        assurance.