Agenda item - Strategic Risk Focus Report: SR30, SR25, SR10, SR18 and SR32

Executive Director, Governance, People and Resources

That the Audit & Standards Committee:

1)             Note the SRR detailed within Table 1 of this report.

2)             Note Appendix 1 the CAMMS Risk report with details of the five SRs and actions taken (‘Existing Controls’) and actions planned.

3)             Note Appendix 2 which provides:

                        i.         a guide on the risk management process;

                       ii.         guidance on how Members might want to ask questions of Risk Owners, or officers connected to the strategic risks; and

                      iii.         details of opportunities for Members, or officers, to input on Strategic Risks at various points and levels.  

4)    Make recommendations for further action(s) to the relevant council body.

37.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law that provided detail on the actions taken and future actions to manage each strategic risk.

SR30 Not fulfilling the expectations of residents, businesses, government and the wider community that Brighton & Hove City Council will lead the city well and be stronger in an uncertain environment.

SR25 Insufficient organisational capacity or resources to deliver all services as before and respond to changing needs and changing circumstances.

SR10 Corporate information assets are inadequately controlled and vulnerable to cyber-attack.

37.2      In response to questions from Councillor Shanks, the Chief Executive explained that the expectation from residents to deliver services digitally was becoming incrementally important and that presented both challenge and opportunity with an officer group tasked with ensuring greater join up within service delivery as that developed. The Director Human Resources & Organisational Development responded that recruitment was an area of challenge and a specific officer post had been put in place to assist with recruitment in Adult Social Care & Health. Both the apprenticeship and trainee scheme had been very successful.

37.3      In response to a question from Councillor Moonan, it was explained that the intention of merging three risks into SR13 would widen the focus for each but that could be reviewed. The Director Human Resources & Organisational Development explained that the audit of PDP’s had found that a proportion were completed but not logged centrally which was an area to improve communication on. The staff survey had found that 79% of staff had a PDP every six weeks and improvements to this would be sought and monitored.

37.4      In response to question from Councillor Hugh-Jones, the Chief Executive clarified that government was currently working on the legislation relating to the Integrated Care System and intensive discussion were underway between the council and the NHS in carrying out the preparatory work and mapping out the process. The Assistant Director Housing Management responded that the Warmer Homes Strategy was a retrofit programme and the council was putting in additional capital funding. The Greater Brighton Economic Board had also established the Retrofit Task Force and work was ongoing to see how those could act as a catalyst for boosting local employment.

37.5      Resolved- That the Audit & Standards Committee:

1)             Note the SRR detailed within Table 1 of this report.

2)             Note Appendix 1 the CAMMS Risk report with details of the five SRs and actions taken (‘Existing Controls’) and actions planned.

3)             Note Appendix 2 which provides:

                        i.         a guide on the risk management process;

                       ii.         guidance on how Members might want to ask questions of Risk Owners, or officers connected to the strategic risks; and

                      iii.         details of opportunities for Members, or officers, to input on Strategic Risks at various points and levels.  

4)    Make recommendations for further action(s) to the relevant council body.