Meeting documents

To consider the report.

The Strategic Manager for Finance Systems and Governance presented the report, which he noted was in a slightly different format and was a developing piece of work. He would welcome questions or comments either at the meeting or later in writing in order to improve the report. He noted that the management of most of the risk work was developing, e.g., the Zurich Municipal work with the Council’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Audit Committee – 23 September 2021 9 Strategic Risk Management Group. He provided an overview of the risks for the quarter, referring to the tables in the report, and noted that two risks had been closed and been superseded by new risks, including successfully delivering the unitary council by 1 April 2023 and the increasing supply disruption, which was largely due to the effects of the pandemic impacting external markets.

The Vice Chair invited questions from the Committee, and during consideration of the reports, issues/concerns were raised, questions were asked/answered, and further information was provided.

The Audit Committee:

Accepted the report and requested that an update of the transparency matrix be brought to the next meeting.

The Strategic Manager for Finance Systems and Governance presented the report, which he noted was in a slightly different format and was a developing piece of work.  He would welcome questions or comments either at the meeting or later in writing in order to improve the report.  He noted that the management of most of the risk work was developing, e.g., the Zurich Municipal work with the Council’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Strategic Risk Management Group.  He provided an overview of the risks for the quarter, referring to the tables in the report, and noted that two risks had been closed and been superseded by new risks, including successfully delivering the unitary council by 1 April 2023 and the increasing supply disruption, which was largely due to the effects of the pandemic impacting external markets.

The Vice Chair invited questions from the Committee, and during consideration of the reports, issues/concerns were raised, questions were asked/answered, and further information was provided:

The Vice Chair enquired about progress on the transparency matrix; the Strategic Manager for Finance Systems and Governance replied that the Council was complying with the transparency code, and an updated version would be considered by the Governance Board.  The Vice Chair requested that an update on the new matrix be provided at the next Committee meeting. 

Cllr Leyshon enquired how dynamic the strategic assessments were, such as supplier disruption and the Council being able to obtain the information it needed from prospective suppliers in time, and was the risk percentage of 10 percent listed on ORG0056 accurate, or was this a default setting?  The Service Manager for Finance Systems and Governance noted in response that the process was dynamic risk management reporting, and as the reports were quarterly updates, this meant the reports contained figures from a month ago.  He noted that the potential for supply disruption was accurately represented in the report, although he agreed that it may be some sort of a default percentage, so he undertook to consider that when preparing the next report.

Cllr Filmer asked with respect to ORG0058 and the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) why it had been closed when it had not yet gone through Parliament; he also enquired whether ORG0055 covered more than just cooperative working between the five authorities.  In response, Members heard that the original risk which had been closed was the Business Case being put forward with the possibility that it would not have been accepted.  There is a new risk that has been raised, but it is not the partnership working (ORG0055); it is another risk that relates specifically to delivering the unitary council by the deadline and what form the new Council will take.  He noted that the new risk was not yet in the strategic risk report, so he undertook to consider that when preparing the next report.

The Committee accepted the report and requested that an update on the transparency matrix be brought to the next meeting.