Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources on the Councils Risk Register.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Committee was reminded that it had requested the latest version of the Corporate Risk Register should be presented at each Committee meeting. A summation of the discussions is outlined as follows.

By way of background, the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources reported that Effective Risk Management is a critical part of the organisation’s governance. The Risk Register identifies those areas where HDC should take action to mitigate its exposure and informs the annual plan for Internal Audit. More information on this can be found in the Council’s Risk Management Strategy.

As part of a full and wide-ranging discussion on the report the Committee considered the risks to HDC and if these are being managed in line with the Risk Management Strategy. The Committee agreed that Effective Risk Management is a critical part of governance within HDC and that the Risk Register identifies those areas where HDC should take action to mitigate its exposure and informs the annual plan for Internal Audit.

Following comments by Councillors Jennings and Hodgson-Jones the Committee agreed that it would help if the Committee could have a graphical analysis going forward of the Corporate Risk Register and as a result of comments made by Councillor Blackwell that it would useful if a glossary of the abbreviations used in the report could also be made available as there can be some contextual ambiguity of these acronyms and a glossary would provide Members with some clarity.

Finally, the Committee was pleased to note that a new Risk and Controls Officer should be in post very soon this officer would support (i) Service Managers to understand their risk profile and risk appetite; and (ii) assist with the overall Risk Management process for HDC (Including attendance at the Committee).

The Committee having considered and commented on the report RESOLVED to formally note that:

1.  progress and performance made on the risks to the organisation is being managed in line with the Risk Management Strategy.