Agenda item

Corporate Governance Risk Register (Quarterly Review)

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager Policy, Communications and Community Engagement.

 

 

Minutes:

The Policy Officer presented the report which advised the Audit and Governance Committee of the Council’s risk management process and presented the updated Corporate Risk Register. The Audit and Governance Committee was responsible for the monitoring and reviewing the Council’s risks.

 

She discussed the two new risks that had been added to the register and that the number of high risks had been reduced to three during the last quarter. She explained to Members, about the risks, which had been downgraded and on the risk removed from the register during this quarter. She explained that another high risk item, was expected to be removed from the register by the December meeting.

 

In response to questions from Members, the Policy Officer, Chief Executive & Growth Director and Chief Finance Officer responded that:-

 

·         For ease of reference A3 copies of the Risk Register would be printed after the agenda is published and placed in Member’s pigeon holes ahead of Audit and Governance Committee meetings;

 

·         The Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) was a spatial plan for the local authorities of East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge, which sat above the local plans for each area, providing a joined up vision for the Greater Exeter sub region. Its purpose was to meet the area’s housing needs in the right locations, providing transport and infrastructure improvements and securing economic growth. These high level ambitions could not be achieved in isolation and this was why a joint plan was being prepared.

 

·         Exeter no longer had a five year land supply.  This was because the market was prioritising purpose built student accommodation and whilst meeting a demand and protecting family housing, it would not count against the five year land supply figures;

 

·         Exeter City Council would seek the services of other energy companies, to avoid any excessive costs, in the unlikely event that the existing provider went into liquidation at Monkerton. The risk addressed research and actions needed before any work was undertaken;

 

·         Out of town shopping centres would increase income through the collection of additional business rates. However, increasing the number of out of town shopping centres could have a negative impact on the vitality of the city centre.  This is a challenge and more than just a planning issue;  

 

·         There was an ongoing investigation for Clifton Hill, which expected to have sufficient money in place for closure. No costs had been finalised, but £100,000 had been approved by Full Council; Parkwood Leisure’s insurance company was covering the cost of their reduced service at Riverside, but Exeter City Council may need to take over the insurance in the future.

 

·         The historical contaminated Council owned land, needed to be shown as a risk but also needed to avoid causing any issues and uncertainty to the public. The land was regularly monitored to ensure there were no issues to keep it as low risk;

 

·         The risk to the council budget and the savings to be made had included the pay increases to staff and the national living wage. Additional savings needed to be made and the exact budget reductions would be confirmed next. Unions would be consulted and discussions were ongoing. The Chief Finance Officer would be providing further information on funding and budgets at the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee on 27 September;

 

·         The pay increase for staff was 2% for the next two years, which also included a higher increase for lower grade salaries. These figure would be built into the 2019 budget.

 

The Audit and Governance Committee reviewed and noted the updated Corporate Risk Register.