Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources, the purpose of which was to provide an overview of key risk areas and the measures being taken to address them. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 6’, is filed with these minutes.

As part of this item, the Committee also received a presentation in relation to the Adults and Communities Department on Corporate Risk 7.2 (If departments are unable to promptly recruit and retain staff with the right skills and values and in the numbers required to fill the roles needed, then the required/expected level and standard of service may not be delivered, and some services will be over reliant on the use of agency staff resulting in budget overspends and lower service delivery) and Corporate Risk 7.3 (If the Department fails to develop and maintain a stable, sustainable and quality social care market to work with it may be unable to meet its statutory responsibilities). A copy of the presentation slides is filed with these minutes.

Risk Presentation

The description of both risks had been amended following a review of the Department’s Risk Management Plan, to reflect the wider risks to the Department around workforce and the sustainability of the care market. In response to comments raised by a member it was clarified that both risks related to the Department’s workforce, but Corporate Risk 7.2 focussed on the internal risk factors, whereas, Corporate Risk 7.3 took into account the risk factors in connection with the overall sustainability of the external market, such as the risks brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Risk Management Update

Arising from discussion and questions, the following points arose:

(i)      Regarding the removal of Corporate Risk 6.1 (EU Transition – If a formal trade agreement between the UK and EU is not in place at the end of the transition period, the UK will be treated by the EU as a third country. Trade arrangements will differ, and goods will be subject to full third country controls and a variety of border checks) a member suggested that perhaps a risk regarding the EU Transition should still feature on the Corporate Risk Register, but with a new focus, until there was a better understanding of how systems were operating nationally under the new arrangements and the effects to businesses.

(ii)    A member highlighted the importance of the Council being proactive in understanding the wider issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic to support longer term recovery and to help determine any areas where further resources were required and where lobbying the Government for such resources would be beneficial. The Director confirmed that the Council was working closely with the Local Resilience Forum and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership to consider and understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to the local economy and contribute to local recovery plans. In terms of the effects of people suffering with long term medical conditions as a result of Covid-19, there was a plethora of potential issues expected to arise. However, as the situation was still evolving, the full extent of the impact to local services could not be known at the current time making it difficult for local services to plan with any certainty for the longer term.

(iii)   Concern was raised about a report regarding the implications of a recent investigation undertaken by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) of a complaint made against the Council regarding the Council’s operation of the Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) scheme with one local provider, which was due to be considered by the Council’s Cabinet on 5th February 2021 and had recently been circulated by the Director of Law and Governance to Corporate Governance Committee members for awareness purposes. Members were advised as follows:

•        The risks had been considered by the Director of Law and Governance, Director of Children and Family Services and the Head of Internal Audit and Assurance Service as soon as the Council became aware of the LGO’s view on the issue and their collective view had been that the issue was isolated to one particular nursery, but there might be wider implications to consider as the case progressed.

•        The LGO had since elected to release a public report as it was believed that the issue may have wider implications to other local authorities. Work would now be undertaken by officers to fully assess the details of the implications arising from the public report. 

•        Regarding the Council’s conduct and liaison with the LGO during the period of investigation, the Director of Law and Governance said that it was not unusual in such investigations for exchanges of views and arguments to be put forward on both sides and in her view the opinions and arguments made by Council officers had been legitimate and put forward to the LGO in an appropriate way.

Members requested that a report on the final outcomes of the investigation be provided at a future meeting.

(iv)   Members requested that a presentation be provided at the Committee’s next meeting on Corporate Risk 4.3 (If as a result of the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic bus operators significantly change their services, then there could be substantial impacts on communities accessing essential services and lead to required intervention under our Passenger Transport Policy and Strategy).

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the current status of the strategic risks facing the County Council be approved and the Director of Corporate Resources be requested to give consideration to the comments now made;

(b)  That the contents of the presentation provided on Corporate Risk 7.2 (If departments are unable to promptly recruit and retain staff with the right skills and values and in the numbers required to fill the roles needed, then the required/expected level and standard of service may not be delivered, and some services will be over reliant on the use of agency staff resulting in budget overspends and lower service delivery) and Corporate Risk 7.3 (If the Department fails to develop and maintain a stable, sustainable and quality social care market to work with it may be unable to meet its statutory responsibilities) in relation to the Adults and Communities Department be noted;

(c)  That at the Committee’s next meeting a presentation be provided on Corporate Risk 4.3 (If as a result of the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic bus operators significantly change their services, then there could be substantial impacts on communities accessing essential services and lead to required intervention under our Passenger Transport Policy and Strategy);

(d)  That a report on the final outcomes of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation of a complaint against the Council regarding the Council’s operation of the Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) scheme with one local provider be provided at a future meeting;

(e)  That the updates regarding Covid-19 recovery planning and the Risk Management Policy and Strategy be noted.