Issue - meetings

[To provide an update on the key risks the Council faces and how it can gain assurance that these risks are being mitigated].

Hayley Reid, Senior Auditor, presented the update on the Strategic Risk Register and a Covid-19 Risk Register.

The Committee were advised that since the covid risk register was last brought to Committee there were now 20 risks the Council faced as a result of the pandemic. All risks had been RAG rated with 7 highlighted red and 13 amber.

Following discussions of Risk 12 ‘Employee Wellbeing’, the Committee were advised that Mental Health first aiders were available for employees and safe places of work had been made available for employees struggling at Hickman Avenue and Civic Centre. It was agreed that David Pattison would bring a report to the next Committee on what the Council is doing in regard to employee mental health and wellbeing, safe places to work including the Civic Centre and Hickman Avenue and work conducted with Partners to ensure a resilient system had been in place for individuals including students from college and universities.

With regards to Covid Risk – 1 Budgetary Pressure 2020-21, the Committee were advised that the Government had provided the Council with £90million in general grants to help relieve initial pressures and loss of incomes and provided a way to claim back any loss of fees and charges. This had been adequate for the financial year 2020 however, the loss of council tax and business rates would affect the next financial year and the Council would be lobbying the Government for help on the loss. Confirmation of the Council’s allocated funding for the next financial year would not be provided until December 2020 which the Committee would be kept up to date on. 

Resolved:

1. That the Council’s Covid-19 risk register which details the risks faced by the Council as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, as at Appendix 1, be noted.
2. That the latest summary of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register, as at Appendix 2, be noted.

3.    That it be agreed that David Pattison bring a report on what the Council is doing in regard to employee mental health and wellbeing, safe places to work including at the Civic Centre and Hickman Avenue and work conducted with Partners to ensure a resilient system had been in place for individuals including students from college and universities..