Issue - meetings

Copy herewith

1.    Cabinet reviewed, commented and where appropriate, confirmed the risks contained in the register and the related risk exposures and mitigating actions are relevant.

Councillor Nunn as the relevant Cabinet Member submitted a report.  This had already been considered by Corporate Management Board and policy stated that it should come regularly to Cabinet.  Risks were identified as potential barriers, constraints or threats to the organisation.  Risk management was a key priority for the Council.  A number of issues were detailed in section 3.2 of the report.

Councillor Stone addressed Cabinet with two concerns as follows:

#14 – Safeguarding – the risk rating was questioned in view of risks to children in the town such as overcrowded housing, exclusion from school, gangs and cuts by NCC to digital safety.  Additionally vulnerable women were at risk on the streets.

#15 – Failure to deliver enough new housing – a national shortage of labour and materials were risk factors impeding the delivery of the vision for more housing. 

Councillor Nunn suggested that the inclusion of ‘scarcity of experienced tradespeople and of materials’ under ‘risk causes’ addressed Councillor Stone’s concern relating to #15, and agreed to consider whether the Local Plan should be included.  In respect of #14 the risks recorded were those to NBC rather than to the town, but consideration would be given to any amendments required.

Councillor Russell addressed Cabinet.  She had found the new report structure very useful, but wanted to know why the impact of Brexit had been given such a low priority.  Having experienced the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in Rhodesia in 1965 and Independence in 1980, she did not consider her comments to be politically driven, and advocated planning for the worst, whilst hoping for the best. 

Councillor Hallam pointed out that there were opportunities associated with Brexit, as well as risks.

Councillor Nunn advised that the risk assessment process had been given careful consideration by Corporate Management Board.

The Chief Executive advised that the process was concerned with operational matters affecting the Borough.  As a Local Resilience Forum partner significant work had been undertaken, looking at potential risks around this agenda.  There had been a planning meeting to mitigate the risks and the Corporate Management Board were considering these.  Weekly updates were being received from Government.

Councillor King provided an update in respect of #14 stating that frontline staff had been trained on CSE, together with new taxi drivers; existing drivers were also being trained.  A domestic abuse strategy was to be put together.

Councillor Hadland queried the position of #10 on the chart on page 45 of the report, which suggested that impropriety leading to fraud was likely to happen.  The Chief Financial Officer pointed out that although the internal fraud risk was low, it also included Revenues and Benefits, where fraud does occur.

RESOLVED:

1.    Cabinet reviewed, commented and where appropriate, confirmed the risks contained in the register and the related risk exposures and mitigating actions are relevant.