Changes to Risk Register since last update (March 2023)

 

Key Corporate Risk

Changes

KCR1 Financial Pressures

New action for completion of this year’s financial strategy

KCR2 Governance

New control in respect of the members induction programme; revised date for ongoing action

KCR3 Effective and Strong Partnerships

No updates at this monitor

KCR4 Changing Demographics

One action completed; one new action regarding anti-racism action plan.  One new control.

KCR5 Safeguarding

New risk detail added regarding statutory inspection and revised controls

KCR6 Health and Wellbeing

No updates at this monitor

KCR7 Capital Programme

New action in respect of the new Financial Strategy

KCR8 Local Plan

Revised dates for actions

KCR9 Communities

New control.  One new action and one action completed

KCR10 Workforce/ Capacity

New action regarding this year’s pay award.  Updates made to ongoing actions.  Controls updated for references to Covid and potential strike action.

KCR11 External Market Conditions

Action completed

KCR12 Major Incidents

One action updated; one new action and new risk detail regarding extreme weather events


 

KCR 1 FINANCIAL PRESSURES: The ongoing government funding cuts and more recently the impact of Covid and cost of living crisis will continue to have an impact on council services. Over the course of the last 10 years there has been a substantial reduction in government grants leading to significant financial savings delivered. The council needs a structured and strategic approach to deliver the savings in order to ensure that any change to service provision is aligned to the council’s key priorities. In addition, other partner organisations are facing financial pressures that impact on the council.

 

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Reduction in government grants leading to the necessity to make savings

 

Increased service demand and costs (for example an aging population).

 

Financial pressures on other partners that impact on the council

 

The spending review is one year only for 2022/23 and 2023/24

 

Financial impact of the pandemic on Council budgets

 

Financial impact of the pandemic on the economy as a whole

 

 

Increased severity and frequency of climate hazard events (e.g. flooding)

 

UPDATED 

General cost pressures due to continued high inflation (latest CPI figures are 6.8% July 2023, and has been slower to fall than anticipated)

 

Increased risk of UK recession

 

 

General cost pressures due to impact of Ukraine conflict.

 

 

Continued interest rate increases through to Sept 2023

Potential major implications on service delivery

 

Impacts on vulnerable people

 

Spending exceeds available budget 

 

Lack of long term funding announcements from central government creates uncertainty which hinders long term financial planning

 

Lack of long term funding announcements from central government may impact on staff retention as it creates uncertainty for temporary posts funded by external funding

 

 

An economic downturn will affect the Council’s main sources of funding; reducing business rates income if premises are vacant and reducing council tax income if more individuals require support due to unemployment.

 

Increased cost of responding to emergency situations, as a result of climate change, and impact on service delivery.

 

 

Increased interest rates and the continued impact of inflation will reduce the overall funding available to the Council and may therefore lead to reductions in service levels in some areas.

 

 

Highly Probable

Major

 

(21)

Regular budget monitoring

 

Effective medium term planning and forecasting

 

Chief finance officer statutory assessment of balanced budget

 

Regular communications on budget strategy and options with senior management and politicians

 

Skilled and resourced finance and procurement service, supported by managers with financial awareness.

 

Climate change mitigation and adaptation programme

 

NEW

Financial Strategy 2023/24 approved.

 

Probable

Major

 

(20)

New Action

NEW

Development of budget strategy for 2024/25 (Debbie Mitchell, 31/01/2024)


 


KCR 2 GOVERNANCE: Failure to ensure key governance frameworks are fit for purpose. With the current scale and pace of transformation taking place throughout the organisation it is now more important than ever that the council ensures that its key governance frameworks are strong particularly those around statutory compliance including information governance, transparency and health and safety.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Increased interactions in relation to FOIA and transparency

 

Failure to comply with data protection and privacy legislation

 

Serious breach of health and safety legislation

 

Failure to comply with statutory obligations in respect of public safety

 

 

The actions to rectify governance weakness agreed by Council in May 2021 in response to the Public Interest Report (PIR) issued in April 2021 will not be achieved.

 

 

Increases in cases held or fines levied by Information Commissioner

 

Failing to meet the legal timescales for responding to FOIA may result in reduced confidence in the council’s ability to deal with FOIA and in turn, its openness and transparency

 

Individuals will be at risk of committing criminal offences if they knowingly or recklessly breach the requirements of the GDPR legislation.

 

Potential increased costs to the council if there are successful individual claims for compensation as a result of a breach of GDPR legislation.

 

Impact on the end user/customer

 

Public and staff safety may be put at risk

 

Possible investigation by HSE

 

Prohibition notices might be served preventing delivery of some services

 

Prosecution with potential for imprisonment if Corporate Manslaughter

 

Adverse media/ social media coverage

 

Reputational impact

 

 

Failure to get sign off of statutory accounts (for governance reasons) if the actions agreed in the PIR report are not complete

Probable

Major

(20)

Electronic Communication Policy

 

IT security systems in place

 

Governance, Risk and Assurance Group (GRAG) covers a wide range of governance issues, including Covid-19 impacts

 

Ongoing Internal Audit review of information security

 

Health and Safety monitoring in place

 

Regular monitoring reports to Audit & Governance committee and Executive Member decision sessions

 

Open Data platform providing Freedom of Information (FOI) requested data

 

Regular review of transparency code legislation and compliance

 

Ongoing management of data architecture to provide de-personalised data to open data platform

 

Public Protection Annual Control Strategy

 

Additional resource, training and improved processes to deal with FOIA requests

 

All officer and delegated decisions are reported publicly to Executive/ A&G to ensure transparency

 

Ongoing Health and Safety Training programmes at all levels

 

Ongoing regular review of internal audit reviews and recommendations

 

SIRO role has changed to Director of Governance and the relationship between the Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO) and the Caldicott Guardian is being strengthened

 

Customer Complaints toolkit has been reviewed and reports to A&G

 

Governance training provided for Directors

 

Process for consistent completion of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) has been circulated across the council

 

The LGA will review and report on the achievement of PIR actions

 

Member training in respect of the Code of Conduct and conflict of interests.

Review of Council constitution completed in 2022.  Next review planned for after elections in May 2023.

 

Approval of the action plan, prepared in response to the PIR.  A&G Committee will make recommendations to Council, following the LGA report. 

 

NEW

New induction programme for elected members

Possible

Major

(19)

New control

REVISED DATE

Ongoing review: Continued implementation and embedding of relevant elements from the action plan.

(Bryn Roberts 30/09/23)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

KCR 3 EFFECTIVE AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS: Failure to ensure partnership arrangements are fit for purpose to effectively deliver outcomes. In order to continue to deliver good outcomes and services, the council will have to enter into partnerships with a multitude of different organisations whether they are public, third sector or commercial entities. The arrangements for partnership working need to be clear and understood by partners to ensure they deliver the best possible outcomes.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Failure to effectively monitor and manage partnerships

 

Partner (especially NHS, Academies) financial pressures may affect outcomes for residents

 

Unilateral decisions made by key partners may affect other partners’ budgets or services

 

Financial pressure on York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (YTHFT) and the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership ICS Board (previously Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (VOYCCG), which may have worsened further due to Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis

 

 

Cumulative impacts of the pandemic and cost of living crisis and a reduction in volunteering on voluntary and community sector

 

 

 

Key partnerships fail to deliver or break down

 

Misalignment of organisations’ ambitions and direction of travel

 

Ability to deliver transformation priorities undermined

 

Adverse impact on service delivery

 

Funding implications

 

Reputational impact

Probable

Major

(20)

Account management approach to monitoring key partnerships. CMT identified the 60 organisations who have the most potential to influence or affect organisational aims and priority outcomes for residents, and monitors on a quarterly basis. Each Corporate Director and the Chief Executive lead on specific relationships.

 

The Integrated Care System now has a strategy in place that aligns with the Health & Wellbeing Board . The York Place Board will oversee the delivery of this at a Place level.  Financial pressure remains, however the Council, ICS and the Acute Trust are working together to reduce delays increase flow to reduce escalation beds and increase staffing.

 

 

 

Internal co-ordination such as Creating Resilient Communities Working Group (CRCWG) meet regularly to understand which areas of the council are working with different partners and what is happening across these agendas (including overall monitoring of arrangements with voluntary & community sector as part of prevention and early help work)

 

There were many positive examples that partnerships worked well together in the event of the Covid-19 emergency and successfully deals with issues; e.g. the YCAB partnership; collaboration with DoE

 

 

Commissioners and the NHS place directors are working closely to deliver a number of key joint services across health and social care.

 

 

The York Health and Care Board is now in place chaired by Ian Floyd, which supports an integrated decision-making approach across organisations

 

 

 

Possible

Moderate

(14)

No change

No current actions

 

 


 

KCR 4 CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS: Inability to meet statutory duties due to changes in demographics. York has a rapidly changing demographic in relation to both residents and business. This brings with it significant challenges particularly in the delivery of adult social care and children’s services. The council needs to ensure that community impacts are planned for and resourced.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Development and regeneration makes York more desirable and accessible to residents, students and business, resulting in increasing inward migration to York.

 

An increase in the aging population requiring services from the council

 

Increase in complexity of needs as people get older

 

Increase in people living with dementia

 

Increase in ethnic diversity of the population means that the council has to understand the needs of different communities in relation to how services are delivered

 

Growing number of people with SEND or complex needs living into adulthood

 

Demographic of workforce supply unable to meet workforce demand

 

Failure to plan for the impact of a rapid change in demographics to front line service provision

 

The impact of the cost of living crisis may disproportionately affect certain demographics; eg BAME and the older community are more likely to suffer health issues, blue badge holders affected by city centre changes, younger people by job losses

 

 

 

Increased service demand from residents, including; statutory school placements, SEND, mental health, adult social care and environmental services (eg waste collection)

 

Increased service demand in relation to business (e.g. Regulation, Planning)

 

Impact of additional demands cause significant financial and delivery challenges, such as a rise in delayed discharges, deterioration of people in the community awaiting elective surgery as well as increases in the number of people requiring care as the population ages

 

Reputational impact as these mainly impact high risk adult and children’s social care service areas

 

Unable to recruit workers in key service areas eg care worker

 

To ensure that decisions made in relation to cost of living support are taken with a recognition of the different impacts on certain demographics

 

 

Probable

Major

(20)

Place planning strategy to ensure adequate supply of school places

 

DfE returns and school population reported every 6 months

 

Local area working structures in frontline services, including Early intervention initiatives and better self-care

 

Assessment and Care management review complete, to better manage adult social care demand on CYC based on community led support

 

Advice and Information Strategy complete, to provide residents with direct access to support and services, to better manage adult social care demand on CYC, resulting in the launch of Livewell York

 

Investment in support brokerage work with NHS integrated commissioning

 

Stakeholder and officer group, to create a more connected and integrated health and social care system.

 

Officer caseload monitoring

 

Internal co-ordination such as Creating Resilient Communities Working Group (CRCWG)

 

Establishing a “preparing for adulthood and LD/Autism lead” to ensure smooth transition

 

York Skills Plan

 

The Education Planning Team have completed a review of demographic data to determine the impact on schools

 

Community Impact Assessments are carried out before decision making

 

Redesign and implementation of new arrangements for early help and prevention

 

Ongoing analysis of the Local Plan and Major development projects demographic data to determine the impact on all CYC services.

 

The Covid 19 review ensures that lessons are learned, links to the population hub providing access to the right data ensure services and support is delivered across localities to reduce inequalities

 

 

 

NEW

Interim Financial Inclusion Strategy monitored by the Financial Inclusion Steering Group

 

NEW

Anti Racism Strategy, Action Plan and Pledge

Possible

Major

(19)

Action added and  completed, new controls

REVISED DATE New transition strategy to be agreed

(Jamaila Hussain, 31/10/2023)

 

COMPLETED

Interim Financial Inclusion Strategy – approved in March 2023

(Pauline Stuchfield)

 

 

NEW

Produce CYC specific Anti-Racism Action Plan

(Pauline Stuchfield, 31/12/2023)

 


 

KCR 5 SAFEGUARDING: A vulnerable child or adult with care and support needs is not protected from harm. Ensuring that vulnerable adults and children in the city are safe and protected is a key priority for the council. The individual, organisational and reputational implications of ineffective safeguarding practice are acute.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Failure to protect a child or vulnerable adult from death or serious harm (where service failure is a factor)

 

Potential for an increased demand on Children’s and Adult services following the pandemic

 

NEW

Failed statutory inspection

 

 

Vulnerable person not protected

 

Children's serious case review or lessons learned exercise

 

Safeguarding adults review

 

Reputational damage

 

Serious security risk

 

Financial implications, such as compensation payments

 

UPDATED

Financial and resource implications of an increase in demand following the pandemic

 

NEW

Financial investment required as a result of a failed inspection

Probable

Major

(20)

Safeguarding sub groups

 

Multi agency policies and procedures

 

Specialist safeguarding cross sector training

 

Quantitative and qualitative performance management

 

Reporting and governance to lead Member, Chief Executive and Scrutiny

 

Annual self assessment, peer challenge and regulation

 

Audit by Veritau of Safeguarding Adults processes

 

Children's and Adults Safeguarding Boards (LSCB & ASB)

 

Ongoing inspection preparation & peer challenge

 

NEW

Local and Regional Data analysis

 

National Prevent process

 

DBS checks and re-checks

 

UPDATED

Effectively resourced and well managed service, supported by robust workforce strategy and clear practice model

 

NEW

Effective recruitment to senior roles with expert assessment contributing to the process

 

Annual Safeguarding Board annual plan

 

Controls implemented from peer review action plan

 

Chief Officer Group which brings together Chief Officers from relevant organisations in relation to safeguarding eg police, CYC

 

Children's Social Care records system is upgraded. This is monitored by a project board. Ongoing development is planned and awaiting costings.

 

Ongoing work to ensure capacity is assured to enable any increase in demand to be met after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted

 

Use of different methods of contact methods for vulnerable children, such as facetime, alongside working with the DoE and Ofsted

 

Improvement Plan for Children’s social care in place since 2020

 

Improvement Plan for Adult Social Care to address current budget pressures in place May 2021

 

Possible

Major

(19)

Risk details added with controls

Jamaila Hussain, Martin Kelly

 

No current actions


 

KCR 6 HEALTH AND WELLBEING: Failure to protect the health of the local population from preventable health threats through preventable control measures.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Failure to protect the health of citizens against preventable disease by ensuring appropriate levels of vaccination, immunisation and screening.

 

Failure to ensure there are plans in place to respond to wide-scale impacts on the health of citizens from future pandemics, infectious diseases and the health impacts of adverse weather impacts

 

The impact of the non or late diagnosis of health issues due to the impact of Covid-19 and cost of living increases on health services.

 

Failure to protect citizens from the adverse health impacts of climate change

 

 

Likelihood of mass disease outbreaks

 

Late diagnosis & delay in treatment of health conditions that could be identified earlier through routine screening e.g. breast & cervical cancer, diabetic sight loss

 

 Reduction in life expectancy and quality of life   

Probable

Major

(20)

York Health Protection Committee is established with good engagement with partners locally and regionally.

 

The Health Protection Committee will produce an Annual Health Protection Report for the Health and Wellbeing Board and Health & Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee

 

CYC Director of Public Health is co-chair of the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Integrated Care Board Local Health Resilience Partnership.

 

Health protection governance arrangements are subject to regular inspection through the internal audit cycle.

 

Mass vaccination programme for flu and Covid

 

The 2020 to 2022 Director of Public Health Annual Report focused on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and makes several recommendations.

 

 

Climate change mitigation and adaptation programme

 

Probable

 

Moderate

(15)

No change

Director of Public Health

 

No current actions

 

 

 

 

 

 


KCR 7 CAPITAL PROGRAMME: Failure to deliver the Capital Programme, which includes high profile projects. The capital programme currently has a budget of £531m from 2022/23 to 2026/27. The schemes range in size and complexity but are currently looking to deliver two very high profile projects, Castle Gateway and York Central, which are key developments for the city.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Complex projects with inherent risks

 

Large capital programme being managed with reduced resources across the Council

 

Increase in scale of the capital programme, due to major projects and lifting of borrowing cap for Housing

 

 

Cost pressures due to increasing inflation rate (particularly in Construction where 20-30% increases in costs are being seen)

 

 

Continued interest rate increases through to Sept 2023

Additional costs and delays to delivery of projects

 

The benefits to the community are not realised

 

Reputational Damage

 

Pausing or stopping projects because of the economic climate may create some compliance issues and may mean that existing projects require extensions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increased interest rates and the continued impact of inflation will reduce the overall funding available to the Council and may therefore lead to reductions in service levels in some areas.

 

Probable

Major

(20)

Project boards and project plans

 

Regular monitoring of schemes

 

Capital programme reporting to Executive and CMT

 

Financial, legal and procurement support included within the capital budget for specialist support skills

 

Project Management Framework

 

Additional resource to support project management

 

UPDATED

Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28 approved in Feb 2023

 

Capital Programmes are sufficiently staffed to deliver to timescales

 

Internal Audit Report gave reasonable assurance on project management arrangements

 

 

Possible

Moderate

(14)

New Action 

NEW

Development of capital strategy for 2024/25

(Debbie Mitchell, 31/01/2024)

 

 


KCR 8 LOCAL PLAN: Failure to develop a Local Plan could result in York losing its power to make planning decisions and potential loss of funding. The council has a statutory duty to develop a Local Plan, a city wide plan, which helps shape the future development in York over the next 20 years. It sets out the opportunities and policies on what will or will not be permitted and where, including new homes and businesses. The Local Plan is a critical part of helping to grow York’s economy, create more job opportunities and address our increasing population needs.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Failure to agree and adopt a Local Plan for the City.

 

 

The Draft Local Plan has started but not completed the Examination stage.

There remains a risk that if the Plan fails this stage more work may be required and / or the plan has to be withdrawn by Council and submitted again after the evidence base has been updated. In these circumstances the overall risk score remains unchanged.

The Local Plan Examination process continues and the policies in draft Local Plan is a “material planning consideration” in the consideration and determination of planning applications. Development proposals which are not in accordance with the Draft Plan may continue to be submitted as planning applications, resulting in refusals of planning permission and an increase in planning appeals. An “adopted” Local Plan following the Examination by the Planning Inspectors would carry greater weight than the draft Plan.

 

There may be a negative impact on the council's strategic economic goals and may have an adverse impact on investment in the city until there is an adopted Local Plan which provides greater direction through land use allocations and policies which guide and direct development.

 

For some major planning applications which may be supported by the Council the development processes and decision making is slowed down by need to refer application to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for consideration as to whether a Public Inquiry should be held or not.

 

Central government (DLUHC) have already identified York as a high priority to produce a Local Plan. The failure to prepare and produce a Local Plan in accordance with the timescale accepted by central government could possibly result in action from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to directly intervene in the plan making process.

 

Probable

Major

(20)

UPDATED

The Plan has completed public inquiry phase and its regulation 19 Consultation is complete.  A final report from Inspectors for consideration by full council is expected in Autumn 2023.

 

Correspondence as to the latest local plan position is regularly published on the Councils website to ensure all parties are kept abreast of the Planning Inspector and CYC dialogue.

 

The plan following national guidance, good practice and specialist legal advice.

 

Continued close liaison with:

·         DLUHC,

·         Planning Advisory Services

·         Planning Inspectorate

·         The appointed planning Inspectors.

 

The Local Plan Working Group (LPWG)  , the Executive and full Council have all  been engaged in the plan making process at appropriate stages and before submission of Draft Local Plan for Examination.

 

Corporate Director for Place weekly monitoring / management of the process

 

Additional resources to ensure delivery within timescales

 

Unlikely

Major

(18)

Reducing risk

 

 

REVISED DATE Ongoing action: Monitoring of controls

(Neil Ferris, 30/09/2023)

 

REVISED DATE

Once the local plan has been adopted – later in 2023-  the KCR will be considered for removal from the risk register.

(Neil Ferris, 30/09/2023)

 

 


 

KCR 9 COMMUNITIES: Failure to ensure we have resilient, cohesive, communities who are empowered and able to shape and deliver services. The council needs to engage in meaningful consultation with communities to ensure decisions taken reflect the needs of residents, whilst encouraging them to be empowered to deliver services that the council is no longer able to do. Failing to do this effectively would mean that services are not delivered to the benefit of those communities or in partnership.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Failure to effectively engage with the communities we serve

 

Failure to contribute to the delivery of safe communities

 

Failure to effectively engage stakeholders (including Members and CYC staff) in the decision making process

 

Failure to manage expectations

 

Communities are not willing/able to fill gaps following withdrawal of CYC services

 

Lack of cohesion in the planning and use of CYC and partner community based assets in the city

 

Failure to mitigate wider determinants of health/deprivation impacts such as world conflicts and the cost of living increases

 

Lack of buy in and understanding from stakeholders

 

Alienation and disengagement of the community

 

Relationships with strategic partners damaged

 

Impact on community wellbeing

 

Services brought back under council provision – reputational and financial implications

 

Budget overspend

 

Create inefficiencies

 

Services not provided

 

Poor quality provision not focused on need, potential duplication, ineffective use of resources, difficulty in commissioning community services e.g. Library services

 

Increase in cost of living and in deprivation

Probable

Major

(20)

Resilient Communities Strategy Group in place

 

New early help and prevention community based service delivery models in People & Customer & Communities

 

Revised Community Safety Plan

 

Devolved budgets to Ward Committees and delivery of local action plans through ward teams

 

Improved information and advice, Customer Strategy and ICT support to facilitate self service

 

CYC Staff and Member training and development

 

 

Community Safety Strategy approved on 2 March 2020 covering the period 2020-2023

 

Community Hubs set up to support residents through pandemic

 

Roll-out of the Community hubs model as agreed in Oct 2020

 

 

Management structure (Mar 2021) appointed Director Of Customers and Communities

 

Community Engagement Strategy published

 

Volunteer Centre established through York CVS. ‘People Helping People Strategy’ being reviewed.

 

Financial Inclusion Steering Group

 

Establishment of Food roles in Communities Team

 

Support for Anti-Racism group provided

 

Maintaining strong relationships with parish councils

 

Access Officer role has been established in Communities

 

NEW

Interim Financial Inclusion Strategy monitored by the Financial Inclusion Steering Group

Possible

Major

(19)

Action completed, new control

COMPLETED

Interim Financial Inclusion Strategy – approved in March 2023

(Pauline Stuchfield)

 

 

 

Team being established to cover equalities, access & inclusion.

(Pauline Stuchfield 30/09/2023)

 

 

 


 


KCR 10 WORKFORCE/ CAPACITY: Reduction in workforce/ capacity may lead to a risk in service delivery. It is crucial that the council remains able to retain essential skills and also to be able to recruit to posts where necessary, during the current periods of uncertainty caused by the current financial climate and transformational change. The health, wellbeing and motivation of the workforce is therefore key in addition to skills and capacity to deliver.

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

The necessity to deliver savings has resulted in a reduced workforce requiring new and specialist skills

 

Recruitment and retention difficulties as the council may be seen as a less attractive option than the private sector

 

Lack of succession planning

 

HR Policies may not be consistent with new ways of working (eg remuneration policy)

 

Uncertainty around long term funding from central government.

 

 

Reduction in posts due to restructures required to achieve budget savings

 

UPDATED

Potential strike action impacting on delivery of services.  Ongoing school strikes and wider transport strikes also implicate on workforce availability.

 

Lack of qualified workforce (eg care staff, HGV drivers)

 

Ongoing national skills shortage

 

Pay structure issues causing pressure at lower end having knock on impact on middle grades and especially supervisory roles around Grade 5

 

 

NEW

Sickness absence levels remain high.  COVID infections likely to be a feature of winter months, with reduced testing and no need to test and report, staff may be impacted.  Important to remind re flu vaccinations and COVID vaccinations for those eligible.

 

NEW

Stress sickness absence remains the highest absence reason, importance of managing stress and potential burnout of staff. 

 

 

Increased workloads for staff

 

Impact on morale and as a result, staff turnover in key services impacting on business continuity and performance

 

Inability to maintain service standards

 

Impact on vulnerable customer groups

 

Reputational damage as a current and prospective employer.

 

Single points of failure throughout the business

 

Lack of long term funding announcements from central government may impact on staff retention as it creates uncertainty for temporary posts funded by external funding

 

.

 

Impact on the health & wellbeing of staff has been and will be significant and may increase early retirements and leavers. Due to

·         Remote working (working from home) can have a negative impact on wellbeing.

·         Work life balance – unable to separate work from home due to work being carried out within the home

·         Ongoing vacancies and volume of work in hard to recruit roles

 

However many staff may see an increase in their Health & Well Being due to more agile working.  Having greater flexibility between work and home life. 

 

More agile and flexible working may also result in increased retention of staff and increase the attraction of candidates for vacant positions.

 

NEW

Reduction in agency spend is a positive however, a reduced spend will impact on Teckal arrangements for City of York Trading (operating as Work With York)

Probable

Major

(20)

Organisational Development Plan (replaces Workforce Strategy/ People Plan)

 

Stress Risk Assessments

 

PDRs

 

Comprehensive Occupational Health provision including counseling

 

HR policies e.g. whistleblowing, dignity at work

 

Development of coaching/ mentoring culture to improve engagement with staff

 

Corporate Cost Control Group monitoring of absence and performance reporting

 

Apprenticeship task group

 

Agency and Interim Staffing Policies

 

Absence Management Policies

 

Substance Misuse Policy

 

A Workplace Health & Wellbeing Group has been established with staff & trade union representation which is chaired by the Head of HR.

 

A staff health & wellbeing survey has been undertaken & this is being followed up by staff focus groups.

 

Increase in regulatory compliance to protect the workforce eg Health and Safety regulations, working time directives

 

Increase in Living wage (although there is no control over this rate and conflicts with NJC rates)

 

Engagement with staff that had concerns about the EU settlement Scheme for European Citizens and offer of support through York Learning, Registrars and Citizens’ Advice Bureau

 

Joint Health and Safety Board and regular review of support for staff

 

Improved frequency of informal and formal meetings with Trade Unions to improve communications and relationships

 

 

UPDATED

Increased help and awareness of staff wellbeing and mental health; monthly make a difference communications which focuses on wellbeing  

 

Business Continuity Planning to assist with redeployment of staff or reduction of service during times of shortage eg HGV drivers

 

Managers being equipped with the right training to manage and lead teams and workforce plan

 

Review of job descriptions and not one size fits all

 

Retention payments and market supplements agreed for key posts

 

HR Advisory circulars now being issued to managers

 

2022/23 pay award accepted and implemented 

Possible

Moderate

(14)

Controls and actions updated

UPDATED

Ongoing action: Review of HR policies to ensure they complement the diverse ways in which our workforce deliver services

(Helen Whiting, 30/09/23)

 

UPDATED

Ongoing action:

Review of employee T&Cs.   Progress has started with costing options ahead of discussions with CMT and Trade Unions. 

 

(Helen Whiting, 30/09/2023)

 

UPDATED

Ongoing action -Implementation of creative recruitment initiatives

New ideas have already been implemented and these will be ongoing and bespoke to the role and service area.  Employer Brand project continues, promoting our employer benefits.

 

(Helen Whiting, 30/09/2023)

 

 

NEW

Awaiting the outcome of negotiations of the national 2023/24 pay award and impact on pay model

(Helen Whiting, 31/12/2023)

 

 

 


 

KCR 11 EXTERNAL MARKET CONDITIONS: Failure to deliver commissioned services due to external market conditions.

The financial pressures experienced by contracted services (in particular Adult Social Care providers) as a result of increases due to the cost of living crisis could put the continued operation of some providers at risk. The Council has a duty to ensure that there is a stable/diverse market for social care services delivery to meet the assessed needs of vulnerable adults/children.

Some services provided by the Council cannot be provided internally (eg Park and Ride) and must be commissioned. External market conditions such as the number of providers willing to tender for services may affect the Council’s ability to deliver the service within budget constraints. 

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

Increases to the national living wage and wage inflation in general.

 

Recruitment and retention of staff

 

If failure occurs, the Council may remain responsible for ensuring the needs of those receiving the service continue uninterrupted.

 

Providers may go out of business as a result of the cumulative effects of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis

 

Many sectors under financial pressure due to the pandemic and cost of living crisis  (reductions in income or increase in expenditure)

 

Costs and cost of living  pressures due to increasing inflation rate

 

Cost pressures due to conflict in Ukraine

Vulnerable people do not get the services required or experience disruption in service provision

 

Safeguarding risks

 

Financial implications: Increased cost of alternative provider

Increased cost if number of providers are limited

 

Reputational damage

 

Providers may face short to medium term recruitment issues due to current market conditions, or face an increase in costs which is passed on to the Council

Unlikely

Major

(18)

Clear contract and procurement measures in place and have been further updated

 

A clear progression process is now in place together with changes to JDs and HoS posts. Retention and recruitment drives in place to support staff within the council and potential new employees

 

Ongoing review of operating and business models of all key providers and putting further mitigation in place, such as more robust contract monitoring and commissioning some ‘enhanced’ credit checks.  Enhanced contract and quality team in place to work with providers reducing the potential for failure

 

 

CYC investment in extra care OPHs has reduced recruitment pressure

 

Revised SLA with independent care group and quarterly monitoring meetings with portfolio holders

 

 Ongoing work with providers to set a York cost of care

 

 

Local policies in place for provider failure

 

Ongoing attendance at Independent Care Group Provider Conference

 

DASS will have oversight of market sustainability.  The appointment of a Head of Commissioning starting in Jan 2023 will co-produce a market position statement with health colleagues and providers

 

Focus on prevention and early support to ensure residents are supported to stay at home for longer

 

Co-producing model of care with people using services and their carers

 

 

The Council’s market position statement is regularly reviewed

 

Unlikely

Moderate

(13)

Action completed

COMPLETED

Market Position  Statement has been revised

(Jamaila Hussain 30/09/2023)

 

 

 

 

 


 

   

KCR 12 MAJOR INCIDENTS: Failure to respond appropriately to major incidents. Local Authorities are required by law to make preparations to deal with emergencies. Local Authorities have four main responsibilities in an emergency 1. to support the Emergency Services, 2. to co-ordinate non-emergency organisations, 3. to maintain their own services through a robust Business Continuity Management process, 4. to facilitate the recovery of the community and 5. since 2013 the council also has a statutory duty to protect the health of the population under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the transfer of public health responsibilities to local authorities.

The Council must ensure that its resources are used to best effect in providing relief and mitigating the effects of a major peacetime emergency on the population, infrastructure and environment coming under it’s administration. This will be done either alone or in conjunction with the Emergency Services and other involved agencies, including neighbouring authorities.

 

 

Risk Detail (cause)

Implications (consequence)

Gross Likelihood

Gross Impact

Controls

Net Likelihood

Net Impact

Direction of Travel

Risk Owner and Actions

An uncoordinated or poor response to a major incident such as:

·         Flood

·         Major Fire

·         Terrorist Attack

·         Pandemic

 

 

Failure to protect citizens from the adverse impacts of climate change

 

 

 

 

Potential for rolling commercial power outages over winter

 

NEW

Increasing frequency of extreme weather events

Serious death or injury

 

Damage to property

 

Reputational damage

 

Potential for litigation

 

Potential for corporate manslaughter charges if risks are identified and proposed actions not implemented

 

Reduction in life expectancy and quality of life

 

Probable

Catastrophic

(24)

Emergency planning and Business Continuity Plans in place and regularly reviewed

 

Strong partnerships with Police, Fire, Environment Agency and other agencies

 

Support to Regional Resilience forums

 

Support and work in partnership with North Yorkshire local resilience forums

 

Investment in Community Resilience (re Flooding)

 

Work with partners across the city to minimise the risk of a terrorist attack

 

Implemented physical measures for certain events

 

Review of city transport access measures

 

Development of the local outbreak control plan and a variety of internal recovery strategies

 

Local outbreak prevention, management and response in place

 

Climate change mitigation and adaptation program

 

Regular review and reporting of carbon emissions

 

Carbon reduction and climate change action plan regular updates to PH/CMT

 

Communications to citizens about steps they can take to reduce impact of climate change (

 

Sustainability leads group to encourage city partners to work together to reduce impact of Climate change

 

Communications incident management plans, including outbreak

 

 

Regular review of emergency and business continuity plans

Possible

Major

(19)

Revised action and new action

 UPDATED

The Government published a new resilience framework on 19th December 2022.  This KCR will need to be reviewed in light of proposed changes when legislation passed (expected Autumn 2023 along with Martyn’s law obligations for CYC)

 

(Neil Ferris, 31st December 2023)

 

NEW

Directorate risk registers to be updated to include relevant climate change risks

 

(Claire Foale, 31st December 2023)