Agenda item

The Corporate Risk Register is attached.

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to review and scrutinise risks where the impact has the potential to disrupt achievement of the Council’s priorities.  The Council’s Section 151 Officer presented to Members an updated Risk Register. The accompanying report provides an updated position with regards to the risks identified and assessed on the Council’s Corporate Risk Register. 

Following a decision at the last meeting of the Audit Committee, Members asked for a further information in respect of the following areas of concern:

CR6 Climate Change

CR28 Asylum and Immigration

CR21 Project Safety Valve.

Officers from each of those service areas attended the meeting and provided an update on work undertaken to mitigate risk, in addition, accompanying reports were circulated to Members ahead of the meeting.

Member’s present in considering the following points and issues were raised:

CR6 Climate Change

The Assistant Director, Operations and the Unit Manager, Environment provided members with an overview of the issues of concern in relation to this risk.

Responding to a Member’s Question the Assistant Director, Operations reported that the financial climate remains difficult; the Council has established the role of Climate Action Officer and it is hope that these roles will become self financing and may in time generate further income. 

Members discussed the Council’s ability to adapt to the changing climate as well as its resilience; the Unit Manager, Environment reported that extreme weather will impact on a number of Council services; Council buildings, transport, emergency services, education and schools and in particular vulnerable residents.  To address some of the issues the Council may consider retrofitting buildings and designing green spaces in urban areas to improve the environment.

In response to a question concerning community engagement, the Unit Manager reported that a Climate Action Board has been established with community and voluntary groups represented, in addition there is a subgroup with specific responsibility for communication.  The Unit Manager reported that they are very much aware of the necessity to bring the “community with you” in relation to delivering on the climate agenda. 

The Unit Manager reported that work is ongoing to try and stimulate the market in terms of environmental friendly solutions eg; heat pumps etc.  It is hoped that by stimulating the market, uptake might increase and ultimately lead to economies of scale and reductions in price.

Responding to Members questions regarding disposal of batteries and mining natural resources, the Unit manager reported that it is important as a Council that we follow and where we can influence Government advice and guidance.

CR28 Asylum and Immigration

The Director of Housing and the Head of Homelessness and Housing Options provided members with an overview of the issues of concern in relation to this risk.

Members discussed the impact on Community Cohesion, local services and the voluntary sector as a result of the dispersal scheme.  The Head of Homelessness and Housing Options reported that a migration operational group has been established to work collaboratively to reduce tensions.  The Council with partners also collates data to assess if there is an increase in anti-social behaviour or hate crime in areas where there is a prevalence of Asylum seekers. 

The Head of Homelessness and Housing Options reported concerns that central government are passing on the responsibility to Local Government for moving Asylum Seekers out of hotels and into other accommodation.  This will affect over 8000 Asylum seekers nationally including 880 in Greater Manchester.  In the Borough of Bury there are only 22 properties available and a very small private rented sector and the money provided is not sufficient to source the properties and provide the support.

Responding to a Member’s question, The Head of Homelessness and Housing Options reported that the once voluntary dispersal scheme is now compulsory, it was hoped that this would create greater equity in the system but as rents are less expensive in northern cities this has not been the case.

The Head of Homelessness and Housing Options reported that the next 12 months will be very challenging for the services.

CR21 Project Safety Valve 

The Director of Educationprovided members with an overview of the issues of concern in relation to this risk.

In response to a Member question in relation to the requirement to reduce demand, the Director of Education reported that the Council has now introduced robust legal timescales and established a multi -agency panel to assess review. 

The Director of Education reported that Bury Council is the 5^th Highest ranked Council nationally for ECHP, this is due to a number of factors, the 2014 code of practice was not adopted strategically within the organisation, greater work is required to identify and meet need at the earliest opportunity and early help needs re-investment.

Responding to a Member’s question, the Director of education reported that the Council have made significant savings to try an achieved the project safety valve targets set by central government.  This has however been offset with higher activity levels, the Director of Education reported that she continues to have positive conversations with the DfE with regards to the deficit. 

The Director of Education reported that the national data does show an increasing trend nationally for SEND provision and some of this is as a result of the Covid pandemic.  There has been a 63% increase in requests for new plans with a refusal rate of 37% in Bury, the increase can be attributed to late adoptions of the SEND reforms, both the 2017/2019 inspections, fractured parental pressure and the requirement for cultural change across the school system.  

The Audit Committee agrees to:

1)         The closure of risks from the Council’s Corporate Risk Register, namely: · CR24 – Elections Act 2022

2)        Thank officers in attendance.

3)         Ask the Chief Executive to prepare for the next meeting of the Audit Committee due to be held on 12^th October; a composite note addressing the concerns raised in respect of all 3 deep dives listed for consideration at this meeting.

4)         Receive more detailed information in respect of the following areas of the Risk Register at the next meeting, due to be held on 12^th October:

·         Financial Sustainability – Sam Evans

·         SEND – Isobel Booler

·         BGI – 3 major regeneration projects – Rob Summerfield