Issue - meetings

Katie Stead, Policy, Improvement and Risk Manager, to present

Katie Stead, Policy Improvement and Risk Manager, submitted the Risk Management Annual Summary 2025-26 and Corporate Strategic Risk Register (CSRR) update.

The report summarised the principal risk management activity that had been carried out in the Council throughout the past financial year.  It also covered a wider range of topics than the regular report on the Corporate Strategic Risk Register and aimed to reflect both the movements in strategic risks that had occurred over the period together with the key elements of the Council’s risk management activity throughout the year.

Risk Management

As set out in the Risk Management Policy and Guide, individual Service Management Teams and Directorate Leadership Teams had reviewed their risk registers in line with the Policy and Strategy. 

Corporate Strategic Risk Register

The Register was formally reviewed by the Strategic Leadership Team at quarterly meetings.

The programme of Audit Committee risk register reviews for the 2025-26 financial year was completed as planned.  A new annual cycle had been established under which the Committee reviewed all Directorate risk registers at least once during the next 12 months and the CSRR twice within the same period.

Movements in the heat map were compared to the risks on the CSSR reported to Committee in January, 2026.  At the start of 2025/26 the CSRR had comprised of 14 risks with none assessed as red.  The total number of strategic risks had increased to 16 with 5 risks added and 3 removed following successful management.  Of those risks, one was raised and removed within 2 reporting points.

By the end of 2025/26, 4 risks on the CSRR were rated as red 3 of which related to new risks that had been escalated up to the CSRR during 2025/26 whilst the remaining risk was escalated from amber to red throughout the year.

In 2024/25 there had been a slight increase in the risk profile throughout the year for the first time in 3 years; this had continued into 2025/26 and active management throughout the year had supported the successful management of this profile.

Appendix 1 contained the complete CSRR including information on current mitigations in place and what were still to be delivered.  It also set out the current target level of risk for each risk.

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

-        Further discussion would take place as to whether hanging baskets off lighting columns was to be included within SLT45 (highways structures inspection regime)

-        SEND education/financing was included within SLT16 (financial plans and budget gap) and incorporated the financial position and sustainability of the Council

-        Work was on track to meet the timetable set by the Chief Executive with regard to the review of failure to manage and deliver regeneration programmes (SLT37)

-        The equal pay litigation was a lengthy and legal process with the risk being assessed along the way

It was hoped that a member and development training session would take place in September on risk management

Resolved:-  That the annual summary of risk management  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28