Issue - meetings

This report provides information on the successful outcomes achieved through the deployment of effective risk management arrangements across the Council over the past year and seeks approval for a revised and refreshed risk management policy and strategy.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the contents of the report, and progress to date, be noted.

                        (ii)        That the economic downturn risks set out in Annex A, and the intended action to manage, them, be noted.

(iii) That the revised and refreshed risk management policy and strategy, set out in Annexes B and C respectively, be approved.

REASON:      To raise awareness of risk management issues and to ensure the implementation of an approved framework for the delivery of effective risk management at the Council.

Members considered a report which provided information on the successful outcomes achieved through the deployment of effective risk management arrangements across the Council during the past year, summarised the impacts and risks of the current economic downturn, and sought approval for a revised and refreshed risk management policy and strategy.

Overall, there was evidence that the organisation was considering risk in a much more positive way.  Risk was now owned, managed and delivered as part of good business practice by officers across departments and was no longer viewed as a separate bureaucratic process.  A summary of changes in the Key Corporate Risks (KCRs) profile indicated that in most cases the number of risks had reduced over the course of the year. 

The output of the work requested by Members last October on the impact of the current economic downturn was presented in Annex A to the report.  From this it was clear that, in addition to its financial impact, the recession could also affect service provision and performance levels against National Indicators.  However, work was being undertaken to manage and mitigate these risks.  The revised policy and strategy were attached at Annexes B and C respectively.  The policy set out the Council’s aspirations and objectives with regard to risk management, while the strategy provided a corporate framework to assist in implementing risk management practices.  Both documents had been revised to provide clear, up to date best practice advice, and to reflect a more mature approach to risk management.

With reference to a recent article in the Press concerning car parking charges in the city centre, it was noted that this was incorrect and that there were no major changes planned or current in this area of work.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the contents of the report, and progress to date, be noted.

                        (ii)        That the economic downturn risks set out in Annex A, and the intended action to manage them, be noted.

(iii) That the revised and refreshed risk management policy and strategy, set out in Annexes B and C respectively, be approved. ¹

REASON:      To raise awareness of risk management issues and to ensure the implementation of an approved framework for the delivery of effective risk management at the Council.

Note:  The above decisions have now been revised, following re-consideration of this item at a meeting of the Executive (Calling In) on 14 July 2009.  The minutes of that meeting, incorporating the revised decisions, can be viewed by clicking on the link below:

http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=601&MId=4341&Ver=4