Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 34/09 of the Head of Human Resources, IT and Customer Services. 

(Time: 5.02pm to 5.10pm)

The Executive received and considered report 34/09 of the Head of IT, HR and Customer Services which sought approval of a risk management strategy.  The strategy had been prepared jointly with South Oxfordshire District Council and had achieved support from its Audit and Corporate Governance Committee and its Cabinet.  The Vale’s Audit and Governance Committee had also supported the draft strategy. 

The Portfolio Holder reported that the strategy combined the best elements of the existing strategies of the two councils and he supported the recommendation for its adoption. 

Members noted that the strategy would help identify what could go wrong to allow the Council to manage risks to the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives.  Risk management was implemented through eight risk champions, one for each service area.  They conducted assessments of risks in their areas and helped formulate strategies to manage risks.  The Executive welcomed the strategy. 

RESOLVED

that the Risk Management Strategy be adopted. 

To receive and consider report 13/09 of the Head of Human Resources, IT and Customer. 

Councillor Jerry Patterson had declared a personal interest in this item.

The Committee received and considered report 13/09 of the Head of Human Resources, IT and Customer.  The report proposed the adoption of a draft risk management strategy for the period 2009 to 2012.  Members noted that the Strategy had been prepared jointly with South Oxfordshire District Council and had been supported by its Audit and Corporate Governance Committee. 

Members accepted that having an up to date risk management strategy would help the Council meet its strategic objective of managing its business effectively.  It would also support all of the Council's strategic objectives by setting out an approach that would identify and reduce risks to the delivery of services, performance targets and projects.  The Strategy would also enable the Council to meet a requirement in the Government's Comprehensive Area Assessment framework, which required the Council to ‘manage its risks and maintain a sound system of internal control’. 

In answer to a question from one Member, it was noted that risk management had been written into the Council’s recent major contracts, i.e. the new waste management contract and the financial services contract.  All new contracts would include risk management arrangements in line with the Council’s Strategy. 

The Committee agreed to recommend adoption of the strategy to the Executive.  However, it was suggested that the Strategy should clarify the timescales for the actions and that the timescales should be dependent on the level of risk.  The reporting officer agreed to incorporate this. 

Members noted that an update of the Strategy would be presented to the Committee in due course and a separate but related report on business continuity would also be forthcoming also. 

RESOLVED

that the Executive be recommended to adopt the draft Risk Management Strategy, subject to the timescales being clarified to reflect the level of risk.