Agenda item

To consider item 9

The Corporate Planning Manager advised Members that this was the regular report on the status of corporate risks presented to every meeting of this Committee. The report reflected any changes and updates made to the Corporate Risk Register since the last meeting on 9 November 2022. The risk register had been subject to regular review by officers at the Performance Monitoring and Strategic Management Boards and also by Lead Members where individual risks fall within their areas of reference.

Appendix 3 contained the detailed evaluations and updates on the status of the individual corporate risks. With regard to the risk map there had been some changes since the last report in November. Most notably, the inclusion of a specific industrial relations risk following the outcome of the Fire Brigades Union’s (FBU) ballot for strike action. At the point at which the papers went to press for this meeting, the outcome of the FBU’s subsequent ballot in relation to the Employers’ revised pay offer of 7% and 5% for 22/23 & 23/24 respectively was unknown. It was therefore agreed that this risk would remain on the register with its initial risk score and RAG status until the outcome of the ballot was known. As Members would be aware, FBU Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the revised offer (96% voted to accept on an 84% turnout) thus ending the dispute and risk of industrial action over this issue. The risk would be reassessed and would likely be reverted to the relevant directorate risk register for background monitoring.

As Members would see from the staff availability risk, there were other factors that could disrupt operations, including ongoing industrial action in other sectors. For example, in the education sector which can affect attendance of staff with childcare responsibilities. This risk had been kept at red RAG status as although steady progress with recruitment towards the target of 300 wholetime firefighters was being made, retention remained a challenge and also recruitment and retention of staff in specialist functions such as ICT and Vehicle Workshops.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised Members that officers continued to work hard with staff retention and recruitment. Recruitment was open for both transferees and wholetime firefighters. Officers had attended the Milton Keynes Apprenticeship Fair, the Buckinghamshire Skills Show and an Armed Forces event. Officers had also recently visited two local Mosques to talk about recruitment.

The Corporate Planning Manager advised Members that with regard to financial sustainability, the risk score and RAG status had been reduced in light of the more positive position arising from decisions in relation to the Council Tax Precept and Government Grant provisions. This risk had been reduced to amber given the ongoing uncertainties in relation to things like fuel and energy prices and also the USAR grant provision.

The Information security risk status was unchanged since November, and Members would see the Covid risk score and RAG status had reduced at the last review in February following the decision to withdraw specific Covid related absence and mitigation measures with residual controls absorbed into business as usual processes and procedures. As with the industrial relations risk, it was proposed to de-escalate this risk to the HR Directorate Risk Register for ongoing background monitoring.

The McCloud / Sargeant pensions risk remained unchanged as there had been no significant developments since last reporting.

Finally, in relation to Climate Change, Members would see what had been achieved in the short term, in particular the re-purposing and adaption of existing 4x4 vehicles in relation wildfire risks. Longer term requirements would be considered as part of the development of the 2025/30 Community Risk Management Plan.

A Member asked about the Urban Search and Rescue risk.

The Chief Fire Officer advised Members that the current position was that the Authority had been informed informally that it was likely the Authority was going to lose the Urban Search and Rescue grant, but it had still not received written notice from the Home Office.

The Chairman, as Lead Member for Service Delivery, Protection and Collaboration, advised that it was right Members scrutinised the financial risk, as this was about the financial grant for the Service, it was not about the Urban Search and Rescue team. It was important to recognise it was not a formal communication, the risk was being managed and officers were in active dialogue with both Ministers and Civil Servants.

A Member asked that both the fire and rescue service and the Police be thanked for how they carried out their duties at an incident in High Wycombe the previous day.

RESOLVED –

1.                  That the status on identified corporate risks at Annex C be reviewed and approved.

2.                  That comments be provided to officers for consideration and attention in future updates / reports.