Issue - meetings

      Report of the Director, Legal and Governance.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member Military-Civilian Integration, Health and Wellbeing, Economic Development, Arts, Heritage, and Tourism presented a report introducing a new Risk Management Policy setting out the processes by which risks will be managed across the Council.

The Leader explained Wiltshire Council uses risk management, alongside performance monitoring, service planning and budget setting, to ensure that the work undertaken by the Council’s services continues to deliver the stated priorities of the Council, making the best use of available resources. He commented on the current matrix for scoring risks and confirmed that this has been replaced by a 5x5 matrix allowing a more granular assessment of risk scores and support easier mapping of risks for joint projects and contracts, saving officer time.

Cabinet was informed that the proposed Risk Management Policy addresses the gaps and recommendations raised by a 2023 internal audit of the Council’s risk management processes, which found that the current risk management framework was not effective. The new policy incorporates best practice from across the sector and aligns the Council’s risk management processes with external partners and other local authorities. It ensures that risk management processes are robust and meet the high standards expected of the Council’s governance structures.

Cllr Graham Wright, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, reported that the Committee would be receiving a briefing on 14 May 2024.

Cllr Iain Wallis, Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, reported that the Committee considered the updated Risk Management Policy at its meeting on 7 February 2024. The Committee sought details on the types of risks included within the policies, how these would be monitored, and how the Council would respond to emerging risks. The Committee noted and welcomed the developments taking place to improve the Council’s risk management process.

Resolved:

To approve:

1.    Adoption of a new Risk Management Policy for the Council.

2.    Delegation to the Council Leader the authority to approve amendments that do not make material changes to the policy.

3.    Delegation to the Director of Legal and Governance the responsibility for the policy’s implementation.

Reason for Decision:

The current Performance and Risk Management Policy was last updated in 2019 and is therefore due a review. Updates are required in order to incorporate a review of risk appetite requested by the Audit and Governance Committee in May 2023, and recommendations made by a 2023 internal audit on risk management processes.