This report provides the latest update on the Strategic Risk Register 2024/25.

The Committee considered a report outlining the updates to the Strategic Risk Register (SRR), in line with the requirements of the Council’s Risk Management Strategy. A copy of the SRR was attached to the report at Appendix 1.  The Risk Register covered the actions completed by the Council for April to June 2024 and the future risk ratings.  The SRR had been reviewed by CMT on 18 June 2024 and no risks had been removed or de-escalated to the relevant Directorate Risk Register.  However, there had been three new risks added to the SRR, as follows:

• ‘Failure to fulfil our obligations under the PREVENT Duty’;
• ‘Failure to mitigate risks or manage issues, associated with health and safety, appropriately’;
• ‘Care Act Statutory duties are not met as Residents are waiting for an assessment or access to services in Adult Social Care.’

Consequently, the Committee was asked to note there were now eight red risk cards, due to the new risks being added since the previous quarter:

• Cyber - Risk of loss from cyber-attack.
• BFfC - Lack of local special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) placement provision to meet current and future levels of demand.
• Failure to safeguard vulnerable adults – The card has been split to be more accurate
• Failure to safeguard vulnerable children – The card has been split to be more accurate
• Failure to deliver zero carbon commitments.
• Unable to deliver a balanced budget because of cost-of-living increases, demand pressures and achieving income targets.
• Care Act Statutory duties are not met as Residents are waiting for an assessment or access to services in Adult Social Care
• Failure to mitigate risks or manage issues, associated with health & safety, appropriately.

The report stated that the risk of failing to safeguard vulnerable adults and children had been made two separate risks to reflect that these functions were managed by different teams.  The Committee noted that the residual risk in relation to ‘failure to respond appropriately to a major incident that includes a public health hazard’ had been categorised ‘Green’ in the first quarter of 2024/25 and if it remained at this level for a second consecutive quarter, it would be removed from the SRR.  There were currently 15 Risks on the SRR.

Resolved:       That the Council’s Strategic Risk Register, as of June 2024, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.