New risk on the block

Risk management is a central part of any organisation’s strategic management and an integral part of corporate governance and it should be a continuous and developing process which runs throughout an organisation's strategy. As far as a Local Authority is concerned, risk management is the identification, measurement and control of risks which can threaten the existence, assets, staff, reputation or services of the Council or part of it.

Highland Council's 'Audit and Scrutiny Committee' will get a risk management update (as agenda item 2) on 031209. What will they be told?

Amongst other things:

• that the Council will need to manage and resolve 2000 job evaluation appeals in 18 months to minimise the effect on staff morale and productivity - an existing risk, and,

• that the poor economic forecast for the Country and the Public Sector in the short to medium term may generate additional pressures and difficulties in balancing the Council’s budgets. This then leads to a 'new' risk; that the Council must manage current and future pressures and commitments within reducing available resources.

The full report can be found here