Issue - meetings

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

To provide an update on risk as at the end of December 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 December 2025.

The Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) introduced the report on behalf of the Business Intelligence and Change Manager who had sent his apologies. The following main points were highlighted:

• The strategic risk profile remained largely stable, with most risks being managed at or near their target levels; and
• A new risk relating to artificial intelligence (AI) governance and oversight had been added to the register as a medium risk, with the expectation that this would continue to evolve as the organisation’s understanding and use of AI developed further.

The Assistant Director – Regulatory provided members with the following update in respect of the Health and Safety risk SHDC23:

• The risk position reflected the status at the end of Quarter 3.
• An assurance review received at the end of December 2025 had assessed the arrangements as adequate, with a small number of recommendations outstanding at that time; and
• Significant progress had been made during Quarter 4 and that, based on the work undertaken since the report was compiled, the Health and Safety risk was expected to return to its target level by the end of the financial year.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members queried the steps being taken to accelerate readiness for food waste collection requirements, given delays in vehicle procurement associated with Environment Act implementation. Additionally, could a new food waste collection service have been added to the existing service rather than implementing a new system.
  • The Director of Finance explained that work was ongoing with suppliers to mitigate delays, acknowledging national supply pressures, and that flexibility had been built into the service rollout to support residents while implementation progressed. Food waste collection could not be introduced as a simple add?on, as it formed part of a wider set of statutory changes.

• Members asked whether current route modelling sufficiently accounted for rapid housing growth areas and whether additional route optimisation software might be required.
  • The Director of Finance responded that modelling reflected assumed growth but acknowledged uncertainties, particularly around consistent take?up rates for food waste services. While in?house modelling capability could be beneficial, the cost and timing—particularly in the context of Local Government Reorganisation—meant that use of external expertise was currently considered appropriate.

• Members raised concerns about communication with residents regarding new waste and recycling arrangements, particularly for those without internet access.
  • The Director of Finance acknowledged the importance of clear and accessible communication and confirmed that learning from other authorities had informed South Holland’s approach.

• Members sought clarification on meaning of the ‘direction of travel’ risk trend arrows within the risk register, such as for ‘SELCP-02: Trust’ and queried whether a downward arrow represented a reduction in risk severity rather than the subject matter itself.
  • The Director of Finance would ask the report author to respond to this query after the meeting.

• Members requested whether  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55