Issue - meetings

To provide an update on risk as at the end of March 2025 (report of the Assistant Director – Governance enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Governance which asked the Cabinet to consider and note the quarterly risk monitoring information for Quarter 4 of 2024/25.

The Deputy leader introduced the report and provided an update on the Council’s risk position as at the end of March 2025 (Quarter 4). He advised that although some time has passed since Quarter 4, the report was coming to Cabinet now because it first needed to go through Governance and Audit Committee which it did so back in July 2025.

The Deputy Leader advised of the key points as follows:

·           Retention of Staff:

Wording and planned actions had been reviewed and updated.  This risk was now being removed from the strategic risk register as it was covered in the partnership risk register.

·           Net Zero Target:

The wording and risk score had been reviewed and updated. The likelihood had been reduced from 5 to 3 as a plan had been agreed by Cabinet.  The overall risk was reduced from high to medium.

The Deputy Leader advised all that full details of all risks, including the strategic, partnership, fraud, and HRA risk registers, were available in the appendices to the report.

DECISION:

That the quarterly risk monitoring information for Q4 of 2024/25 be noted.

(Other Options considered)

·           Alternative reporting arrangements.

Reasons for decision:

·           To ensure risks which have an impact on the achievement of the Council’s objectives are identified and reviewed).

To provide an update on risk as at the end of March 2025 (report of the Assistant Director – Governance enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Governance which provided an update on risk as at the end of March 2025.

The Business Intelligence and Change Manager introduced the report to the committee. The Q4 2024/25 SHDC Risk Registers were at Appendix A.

The Q4 2024/25 SHDC Housing Revenue Account Risk Register was at Appendix B.

Overview of changes included:

• A proposal to remove the ‘Retention of Staff’ risk from the SHDC Risk Register as this was covered within the Partnership Risk Register;
• A reduction in the ‘Net Zero Target’ risk which reduced from high to medium following the Cabinet approved plan;
• A new Fraud Risk Register had been included following advice from auditors;
  • The ‘Procurement’ risk had been reduced following completion of the Procurement Card audit actions;
  • Fraud risk relating to ‘Council Tax - Credit Refund and Income’ had reduced due to improved controls.
• The risk relating to ‘listening to tenants’ on the HRA Risk Register had reduced following the appointment of the lead officer and adoption of the Engagement Strategy; and
• The register had been reformatted to improve readability.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members requested more information regarding the ‘Trust’ risk SELCP02.
  • The Business Intelligence and Change Manager responded that an increased risk score was to be considered by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) as a result of the political opinion differences across the partnership. More details would come forward when they were known.
  • The Assistant Director – Governance added that the score had not changed and that SLT kept the Trust risk under review via established partnership mechanisms.

• Members stated that an informal session to understand the Risk Register more fully would be useful.

• Members welcomed the F-06 ‘Council Tax – Credit Refund and Income Fraud’ risk and queried when this was applied and whether potential related controls had impacted the ‘lower’ risk score.
  • The Business Intelligence and Change Manager would investigate and report back to the committee after the meeting.

• Members referred to risk SHDC-OP-33 ‘Parkwood Leisure Provision’ which stated ‘need action date to review’ and queried if a date had been confirmed.
  • The Business Intelligence and Change Manager would liaise with the risk owner so that an action date could be included.

• Members referred to risk SHDC-OP-35 ‘Planning Software retiring 2027’ and queried if progress was on track for completion by the 31 March 2026 target date and whether Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) placed an increased risk on the project.
  • The Business Intelligence and Change Manager confirmed that the project was on track and that the size of the project would warrant a distinct area within the risk register in due course. The current Planning system was to become unsupported and therefore the project needed to be undertaken/completed regardless of LGR. Due diligence would take place regarding future contracts in this respect.

• Members confirmed that residents had welcomed the work being undertaken following implementation of the Tenant Engagement and Influence Strategy.

• Members stated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5