Archived decisions

Contact: Peter Andrews, ext. 01962 847309, [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions for Part A of the Report were made:

That Cabinet:

(a) Give a view on the approach being taken to manage the County Council's risks and whether any changes of approach are needed.

(b) Asks the Chief Executive to review the County Council's Risk Management Framework and provide an assessment on compliance and the adequacy of internal and external controls.

(c) Support the development of a cross cutting strategic risk register, owned by Chief Officers and that such a risk register is reported to Cabinet no later than September 2008.

1.2 The following decisions for Part B of the Report were made:

That Cabinet:

(a) That the Chief Executive be asked to carry out a further review of the existing health and safety arrangements in the County Council as part of a wider review of the County Council's risk management arrangements to ensure that they provide sufficient levels of assurance that robust systems of health and safety management are in place.

(b) That the Chief Executive be asked to prepare an initial report containing details of the findings of the review proposed in recommendation (a) and detailed proposals for the ongoing reporting to Members on the efficiency and effectiveness of the health and safety arrangements within the County Council for initial submission to the Risk Management Board and ultimately this Cabinet.

(c) That the Chief Executive is asked to strengthen the existing assurance arrangements in advance of the review proposed in recommendation (a), by instigating a formal audit programme in all Departments to a standard set by the Chief Executive and based on accepted national standards, with an annual assurance report to the Governance Committee.

(d) That a seminar be convened for all Members of the County Council; that Executive Members are fully briefed on the Act for the services they are responsible for and that a presentation be given to each Select Committee.

2. Reason

2.1 The County Council's risk management arrangements are designed to ensure the right balance between innovation & change on the one hand, and the avoidance of shocks and crises on the other. Managing the risks faced by the County Council in a systematic and efficient way is vital to the delivery of services that offer value for money, Outcome MP 1 in the Corporate Business Plan.

2.2 Cabinet has a role to oversee the effective management of risk by officers of the County Council and advise officers the extent to which their approach meets Members' needs.

2.3 Officers' capacity to report on the key risks affecting the County Council would be improved by the production of a register of those key strategic risks that cut across service areas.

2.4 The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 presents an opportunity to review the County Council's health and safety arrangements and ensure that sufficient assurance is provided that those arrangements are followed in practise.

3. Other options considered and rejected

3.1 The framework developed for Risk Management and Health and Safety has been based on best practice, both from the private and public sectors.

4. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted - none.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable

Approved by: Date:
Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE - Chairman