Mr Aaron Winter, Interim Head of Internal Audit, Fraud and Risk presented the Corporate Risk Register and said this was a regular report to the Committee. He said the report provided an update against the Risk plan and how the Council was performing against the key targets. Mr Winter said his team coordinated risk management activity, but the identification, assessment, justification and mitigation of individual risks remained the responsibility of Management.

Mr Winter stated Mr James Thomas, Corporate Directorate for Children and Culture was also present for the meeting, to answer questions relating to the Children and Culture Directorate Risk Register. Mr Winter said resources for the management of risk remained a challenge however they were looking at alternative options and were reviewing this by seeking strategic input to find a way forward.

In response to comments and questions from members the following was noted:

• Referring to the previous minutes and risk CSD0016 and the target date 2023, Mr James Thomas, Corporate Director for Children and Culture stated that the risk remained on the risk log indefinitely, as it was of such importance. He said underneath the risk was a set of mitigation actions that were reviewed on a quarterly basis.
• In reference to CSDLA000, SEN Budgets, particularly transport costs, Mr James Thomas reassured members the Directorate was keeping a close eye on the budget. He said the Transport Demand Board was working on strategies to stay within the budget which included providing travel training to SEN children and families as well as encouraging families to take up personal budgets.

The Audit Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Note the corporate risks, and where applicable request risk owner(s) with risks requiring further scrutiny to provide a detailed update on the treatment and mitigation of their risk including impact on the corporate objectives at the next Audit Committee meeting (or separately before the meeting if urgent).
2. Note the Children’s and Culture Directorate risks and where applicable request risk owner(s) with risks requiring further scrutiny to provide a detailed update on the treatment and mitigation of their risk including impact on the directorate’s objectives at the next Audit Committee meeting (or separately before the meeting if urgent).