The Chief Internal Auditor, Mark Niblock, introduced the report of the Director of Finance and Investment (S151) that provided information on arrangements to manage risk and improved focus on those most critical risks. The report provided an update in relation to the arrangements underpinning the corporate risk register. A copy of the current version of the register was appended to the report.

The Chief Internal Auditor informed that SLT had agreed that no changes to risk descriptions were required at this stage and the only changes to risk scores that were needed, since the register had been reported to the 22 July 2019 ARMC. These were:

·  Risk 2 - Demand Management - the likelihood of the risk arising has been reduced from 4 (Likely – will most probably occur within the period covered by the plan) to 2 (Unlikely – not expected to occur within the period covered by the plan), taking into account the updated mitigations in place as detailed in the updated register. This results in an overall risk score reduced from 16 to 8.

·  Risk 4 – Failure to Implement Cultural Change necessary… - the likelihood of the risk arising has been reduced from 4 (Likely – will most probably occur within the period covered by the plan) to 3 (Possible – may possibly occur at some point within the period covered by the plan), taking into account the updated mitigations in place. This results in an overall risk score reduced from 16 to 12.

The Chief Internal Auditor’s report further informed Members on actions planned for the future that included:

·  Continued audits to shed light on the effectiveness of existing mitigation and areas for improvement, in support of mapping the key controls for each risk.

·  Target scores for the corporate risks will be completed following an exercise planned for later in 2019/20 to draw out the risk appetite of political and executive leaders.

·  Directorate and Programme Management Office risk registers will continue to be subject to review.

·  Examination of one of the revised corporate risks in detail at each future meeting of the committee - The Director for (Adult) Care and Health will be invited to the next meeting of the ARMC to respond to Member questions.  

·  Following the appointment of the Risk, Continuity and Compliance Manager a programme of training for Member and officers (including Risk Management Support Leads) is to be developed.

The Chair thanked the Chief Internal Auditor for his report.

Resolved – that the report be noted.