Agenda item

As part of this item a presentation will be given on Corporate Risk 9.4 (If climate change impacts happen more frequently or at a greater intensity than anticipated, then there is the risk that County Council services will be negatively affected).

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources which provided an overview of key risk areas and the measures being taken to address them and an update on counter fraud initiatives. 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 on Corporate Risk 9.4 on the Corporate Risk Register (If climate change impacts happen more frequently or at a greater intensity than anticipated, then there is the risk that County Council services will be negatively affected). A copy of the presentation slides is filed with these minutes.

 

Risk Presentation

 

Arising from discussion and questions the following points arose:

 

(i)         In regard to drainage assets it was clarified that the legacy network referred to in the slides related to small drains below 1.5 metres in diameter. The Flood Risk Management Team had carried out an extensive exercise to map as many of these drains as possible across the County to enable risk assessments and ratings of each individual drain to be undertaken. The processes for carrying out the mapping and risk assessments were complex with physical exploration often being required, but good progress was being made.  Around 600 or 700 additional small drains had been mapped so far but it was believed many more remained to be discovered.

 

(ii)        One of the duties the Council was required to carry out under the Flood and Water Management Act was to investigate flooding incidents. The procedure for carrying out the investigations required a great deal of meticulousness and involved many different parties, which often impacted on flooding response times and any future mitigations that might be put in place.

 

(iii)       Regular consideration was given to investments in highways assets and infrastructure. There was a variety of road treatments available and various factors to consider before investments were made. For example, surface treatment was more susceptible to melting than conventional treatments but was cheaper and caused less disruption of traffic. Another example was that the Council had been using polymer modified binders on major roads, which improved temperature resistance. However, this type of product was unsuitable for use on minor roads.

 

(iv)      It was queried, given the impact severe weather conditions had on the rail network and in turn the local economy, whether there had been any discussions between the Council and Network Rail regarding this matter. It was stated that where the risks to railways were concerned there were boundaries in terms of the Council’s assessments. However, any knock-on effects from weather impacts on Network Rail were something that would be considered.

 

(v)       Whilst discussing the impact the jet stream could have on the UK’s weather, it was confirmed that it was too early to say whether there had been a major change to the UK’s climate projections. Local assessments relied upon the best available projections which were published by the Met Office in 2018. However, additional information that was emerging internationally suggested that the risks for certain weather events were being underestimated. This meant that extreme weather events could be even more likely than the Met Office forecasted. A major update of the official data used to produce the projections was not expected in the short term, so whilst the Met Office projections were closely followed efforts were also made by the Environment and Transport Department (ETD) to keep informed in other ways of the changing risks.

 

(vi)      A member commented that soil in certain areas of Leicestershire like Melton was particularly rich in clay, so if extreme weather conditions continued, certain industries and structures such as agricultural and bridges that had been formed in those areas would be more susceptible to flooding and subsidence in later years and the risk would increase over time.

 

 

Risk Management Update

 

Arising from discussion the following points arose:

 

(i)         In response to a question regarding the potential implications of the Environment Bill, which was expected to be introduced by Central Government, to the Council as a Waste Disposal Authority, it was reported that the ETD had confirmed that risks around specific changes to legislation were covered in the Departmental Risk Register. Currently, it was expected that the Council should have a degree of protection from the main potential new burden cost risks due to mitigating actions already in place. However, the ETD would continue to engage with the Government and trade bodies to monitor the situation. The Director undertook to circulate the full update from the ETD to members of the Committee outside of the meeting.

 

(ii)        The webinars regarding the risk of cyber-crime that Leicestershire Police had recently launched for Leicestershire’s schools and academies as a result of the Council working in conjunction with the Leicestershire Police’s Cyber Crime Unit were welcomed. The Director undertook to enquire and confirm to Committee members outside of the meeting whether Leicestershire Police intended to carry out any more webinars of this kind. The need for Leicestershire Police to continue to take action to mitigate the cyber risk in schools was highlighted and assurance was given that the high-level nature of the national risk was fully recognised by the Police and that action was being taken.

 

(iii)       It was too early to know the full impact of the ‘Pingdemic’ issue (where a large number of people had been told by the NHS Covid App to self-isolate) to Council services, but confirmed that the situation would be kept under review under the usual risk management processes. It was expected that depending on the severity of any impact, action plans put in place to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the earlier stages may also need to be relied upon again.

 

(iv)      In terms of the potential effects, such as staff shortages, of the ‘Pingdemic’ on the Home Care Service and the re-procurement, which was currently underway, the same approach would be taken. Unfortunately, the impacts of the Pandemic to Council services were inevitable, but processes to manage issues such as PPE provision were now well established offering a robust level of mitigation. Another mitigating factor was that as the demand for home care services had increased, more people were currently working in the care sector. Members noted that the re-procurement of the Home Care Service was different to the last in that the model of service delivery was based upon an open framework of providers who had bid to work in Leicestershire, so a less disruptive implementation was anticipated.

 

(v)       The RAG rating for Corporate Risk 7.3 (If the Adults and Communities 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) remained Red because although the overall risk score had reduced from 20 to 16, under the Council’s Risk Management Policy and Framework the score needed to reduce to 15 or below to move out of the highest risk category. The risk was expected to gradually decrease over time.

 

(vi)      It was agreed that consideration would be given by the Director of Corporate Resources when finalising the agenda for the Committee’s next meeting to whether a risk presentation was needed, or other agenda items should be prioritised and requested that officers make a recommendation  to the Chairman of the Committee at the appropriate time on how to proceed.

 

 

RESOLVED:

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

 

(b)    That the contents of the presentation provided on Corporate Risk 9.4 (if climate change impacts happen more frequently or at a greater intensity than anticipated, then there is the risk that County Council services will be negatively affected) be noted;

 

(c)    That the Director of Corporate Resources be requested to give consideration when finalising the agenda for the Committee’s next meeting to whether a risk presentation was needed, or other agenda items should be prioritised and make a recommendation to the Chairman of the Committee on how to proceed;

 

(d)    That the updates regarding emerging risks and counter fraud initiatives be noted;

 

(e)    That the update from the Environment and Transport Department regarding management of potential risks to the Council which may arise from the requirements of the Environment Bill be circulated to members of the Committee outside of the meeting.

 

(f)     That the Director of Corporate Resources be requested to enquire outside of the meeting whether further police webinars regarding the cyber risks in schools are planned.