Issue - meetings

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

6.1       The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer which presented the Strategic Risk Register in a refreshed format.

6.2       The Committee welcomed the additional information provided by the revised format, and requested further development of the Register, to provide explanations of why specific risks were added to or removed from the Register. The Chief Operating Officer agreed to include this.  

6.3       The Committee discussed:

·         Risk 1 – Roads: the risk is at the higher end of the Amber band and is kept under close review, given the level of public and member interest.  

·         Risk 12 – Cyber Attack: the return to office based working, which is not scheduled to happen before September, will not impact on the Council’s IT security, although reminders to staff about non-network printers and retention of information in hard copy will be issued.

·         Risk 15 – Climate: remains a key area of focus, with action plans being developed.  The Chief Operating Officer agreed to review the Register in the light of comments made about biodiversity and adaption.

6.4       The Committee RESOLVED to note the Register.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

42.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

42.2     The Committee discussed:

• Risk 12 – Cyber Attack – The Committee asked about the impact of increased home working, caused by the pandemic, on cyber security.  The Chief Operating Officer set out that staff working at home did so on ESCC devices with the usual suite of security features, and that certain platforms to support collaborative working were encouraged over others.  The Audit Manager informed the Committee that an audit was currently in progress on this topic, and would be reported to a future meeting.

• Risk 14 – Post European Union (EU) transition – The Committee commented on the Red rating of the risk and suggested that this could be downgraded.  The Chief Operating Officer set out that the Register reflected the position as at December, and so was likely to be adjusted in Q4. 

• General presentation of the Register – The Committee commented on the infrequency with which the risks change rating and the nature of the Red Amber Green (RAG) options, and suggested that a more graduated scale or heat map might be more useful in terms of presentation.  The Chief Operating Officer set out the calculations of likelihood and impact that generated the RAG rating.  He agreed to investigate alternative methods of presenting the information, together with pre- and post-mitigation scores. 

42.3     The Committee RESOLVED to note the report.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

18.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer, which  presented the Strategic Risk Register ahead of it being considered by Cabinet.  He highlighted the inclusion of a new ”No Trade Deal Brexit” Risk, which had been suggested by the Committee at the previous meeting. 

18.2     On Risk 16 – Covid-19, the Committee asked whether the local outbreak plans took into account business continuity of the Authority, and whether a sudden outbreak might affect the work of a department.  The Chief Operating Officer confirmed that the Director of Public Health is the local lead officer and informs a  weekly strategic officer group meeting.  Business Services have done scenario planning, and has prepared for a potential reduction in resource in terms of prioritisation of services.  

18.3     The Committee RESOLVED to note the report.