The Head of Audit introduced the report which set-out the latest position on the Council’s corporate risks, as well as an overview of operational risks, which were reviewed and updated regularly by officers.

The Chair invited Members to make comments and these included:

·         The 2023-24 date on page 19 of the agenda pack need to be amended;

·         concerned with the increase in homelessness and whether a housing Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) activation could have a potential impact on the Council;

·         clarification sought as to what could be done to defend the Council from potential cyber-attacks;

·         sought an update as to whether a Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Project Officer had been recruited; and

·         the Council had been unable to deliver a five-year housing supply and considered the risk was higher than ‘medium’.

In response, the Head of Audit confirmed that she would update the 2023-24 date.  The Head of Housing & Communities explained that these were the Corporate Strategic Risks and the housing SWEP was an operational risk, she would review if it needed to be escalated to a corporate risk.  The Head of Audit said that work was ongoing with the IT team to look at the cyber-attack risks, and this was being continually assessed and was very high on the agenda.  She confirmed that both LGR posts had been filled.  The Head of Place explained that it was not the risk of not having a five-year housing supply, it was the risks inherent of not having a five-year supply and what this exposed the Council to.  She said this needed to be re-worded to make the assessment of the risk more accurate.

Further comments included:

·         Referring to Funding Capital Spend on page 22 of the agenda pack, was disappointed that two of the controls planned (generation of capital receipts through selling assets, and work more closely with commercial tenants) were 0% completed;

·         considered the figure for the introduction of the statement of common ground process for major development sites would be greater than 5%; and

·         clarification sought on the Council not securing night shelter in terms of homelessness and where this was within the risk register.

In response, the Director of Resources explained that the first figure needed to be updated as at least one asset had been sold this year, and she said going forward, it was important to review how this target was measured.  The second figure was part of an ongoing piece of work.

The Head of Place said the second point was in response to an appeal decision which challenged the way the Council had been calculating the five-year housing supply, and the figure was cautious and in reality was probably higher.

The Head of Houising and Communities explained that the lack of night shelters and increased street homelessness were an emerging issue for this year.  This was an operational risk, rather than a strategic risk and she would look into it further.

Councillor Mike Baldock proposed the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Lloyd Bowen.

Resolved:

(1)       The Council’s corporate risks and overall risk profile, gaining assurance that key risks were being appropriately managed were considered and noted.