Agenda item - Strategic Risk Focus Report: SR36, SR23 and SR21

Report of the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law

That the Audit & Standards Committee:

1)             Note the SRR detailed within Table 1 of this report.

2)             Note Appendix 1 the CAMMS Risk report with details of the three SRs and actions taken (‘Existing Controls’) and actions planned.

3)             Note Appendix 2 which provides:

                        i.         a guide on the risk management process;

                       ii.         guidance on how Members might want to ask questions of Risk Owners, or officers connected to the strategic risks; and

                      iii.         details of opportunities for Members, or officers, to input on Strategic Risks at various points and levels.  

4)             Make recommendations for further action(s) to the relevant council body.

23.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law that provided detail on the actions taken and future actions to manage each strategic risk.

SR36 Not taking all actions required to address climate and ecological change and transitioning our city to carbon neutral by 2030

23.2      In response to a question from Councillor Shanks, the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture clarified that electric vehicle bays had been introduced as advisory to pilot how the bays would be used and to aid the transition toward something more permanent.

23.3      In response to a question from Councillor Meadows, it was explained that the review of the council’s fleet would be done in such a way to support the council’s strategy on weed removal.

23.4      In response to a comment from Councillor Meadows, the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture stated that the opportunity for input into the strategic risks was facilitated by bringing the full risk report to this committee. The Head of Performance Improvement and Programmes added that it was implicit that committee chairs would bring to their ELT lead the discussion points from their committee meetings and that would be made explicit in future reports.

23.5      In response to a comment from Councillor Littman, the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture responded that the assessment of SR30 was concerned with the city’s response to the climate emergency rather than the outcome of climate change in general, but the matter would be reviewed again.

23.6      In response to a question from Councillor Hugh-Jones, the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture clarified that the 35% delivery of the carbon neutral programme related to actions taken that year meaning the programme was on track. There was a huge amount of work to be undertaken with partner organisations and businesses in the city to meet the net zero target by 2030. Good progress was being made on the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) with updates reported to ET&S Committee. In relation to the completion rate of 10% for the eastern seafront regeneration projects, this was an honest assessment of a major regeneration project that would need several years for completion.

SR21 Unable to manage housing pressures and deliver new housing supply

23.7      In response to a question from Councillor Meadows, the Executive Director Housing Neighbourhoods & Communities answered that verified rough sleepers had a specialised housing pathway so there was not pressure on temporary accommodation arising from rough sleepers. Further, the Executive Director Housing Neighbourhoods & Communities clarified that the allocations policy had been prioritised toward homeless people not verified rough sleepers for whom a different, separate pathway was delivered.

23.8      RESOLVED-

That the Audit & Standards Committee:

1)             Note the SRR detailed within Table 1 of this report.

2)             Note Appendix 1 the CAMMS Risk report with details of the three SRs and actions taken (‘Existing Controls’) and actions planned.

3)             Note Appendix 2 which provides:

                        i.         a guide on the risk management process;

                       ii.         guidance on how Members might want to ask questions of Risk Owners, or officers connected to the strategic risks; and

                      iii.         details of opportunities for Members, or officers, to input on Strategic Risks at various points and levels.  

4)             Make recommendations for further action(s) to the relevant council body.