Issue - meetings

That the Risk Management Policy for 2026/27, the Risk Appetite Statement for 2026/27 and the current Corporate Risk Register be approved.

Councillor Cutler introduced the report.  report and drew members’ attention to the changes since the previous year as summarised in paragraph 11.7 of the report. The report had been discussed at Audit and Governance Committee on 5 March 2026 where members had requested that further consideration be given to whether risk CR010 should be expanded to include reference to risks relating to the Nature Emergency.  The Director (Finance) had agreed to discuss this further with the Executive Leadership Board.  In addition, a correction was noted to the current controls section of risk CR003 to refer to the Residents’ Survey which had been undertaken and completed in 2024.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Lee and Godfrey addressed Cabinet as summarised below.

Councillor Lee

Councillor Lee agreed that the report established a structured framework for managing risk and aligned with recognised good practice. He sought clarity on whether risks related to LGR should be treated as key strategic risks.  In addition, he queried whether risk management should go faster to address climate emergency ambitions but welcomed the inclusion of the nature emergency within the corporate risk register. He also suggested that a more open risk appetite would allow the council to inject more ambition into areas like housing by adopting tried and tested new construction practices.

Councillor Godfrey

Councillor Godfrey noted the stability of the risk management policy since the previous year and agreed that this consistency should be widely supported. However, he expressed concern that the policy was not being implemented with enough confidence to allow for innovative decisions in areas like affordable council housing. He urged the council to apply its open risk appetite to adopt modern methods of construction, such as modular building, to deliver energy-efficient homes within the existing budget.

Councillor Cutler responded to the comments made including emphasising that LGR would have its own risk register.  The Strategic Director also responded to comments confirming that the council would seek to use modern methods of housing construction provided they were economic.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

That the Risk Management Policy for 2026/27, the Risk Appetite Statement for 2026/27 and the current Corporate Risk Register be approved.

The Senior Policy and Programme Manager introduced the report and drew members’ attention to the changes since the previous year as summarised in paragraph 11.7 of report CAB3548.

The Senior Programme and Policy Manager, the Director (Legal), the Director (Finance) together with Councillor Cutler responded to members’ questions on the report.  It was noted that the current controls section of risk CR003 should be corrected to refer to the Residents’ Survey which had been undertaken and completed in 2024.  The Director (Legal) confirmed this would be corrected.

The following points were raised for further review:

a)    In relation to risk CR010, further consideration of whether it should be expanded to include reference to risks relating to the Nature Emergency.  The Director (Finance) agreed to discuss this further with the Executive Leadership Board.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation have regard to the discussion of this committee on the policy and the points outlined above in his presentation of report CAB3548 which would be considered at Cabinet on 12 March 2026.