Issue - meetings

To consider report 13/10 of the Head of HR, IT and Customer Services. 

The Committee considered report 13/10 of the Head of HR, IT, and Customer Services.  This updated councillors on progress with developing and improving the council’s business continuity arrangements.  The report also suggested a revised reporting frequency on business continuity and risk management matters. 

Progress included revising business continuity plans, commencing work on a crisis management plan and setting up an action team.  There would be detailed business continuity arrangements also.  This included in-house services and those provided through contractors or partnerships.  Business continuity also included recovery of information technology systems in the event of disruption.  A plan was in place to manage this. 

Councillors noted that internal audit had looked at disaster continuity arrangements and had given “full assurance” in April 2009.  The Committee was content with the progress made.  Councillors recognised that, as there were risk management and business continuity procedures across the council and the process was almost complete, the reporting frequency could be reduced to once a year. 

Councillors requested that in case of a disruption to the council’s telephone system, officers should investigate a recorded message to inform the public of the problem. 

RESOLVED  (by six votes to nil)

(a)       To note the progress made in developing and improving the council’s business continuity arrangements to meet the needs of shared working with South Oxfordshire District Council and the associated revised management structure; and

(b)       To introduce an annual reporting frequency for business continuity and risk management matters.