Issue - meetings

This report advises the Committee on the latest position in respect of the evaluation of financial risks facing the Council for discussion and any recommendations or comments they wish to make.

Recommendation

That:

That the Committee review the risk register and make any comments it wishes to make against individual risks.

The Director of Finance introduced the report, advising that the 2025-2026 budget has been broadly approved and is balanced, but highlighted a project gap in the following years due to the assumptions regarding fair funding reforms. The officer mentioned the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and advised that it had been added to the risk register.

Members enquired about the increasing risk related to pay awards, to which the officer responded by explaining that this risk is higher in the beginning of the year due to pending agreements. Furthermore, Members raised concerns about the potential for delayed pay negotiations, which could keep the risk elevated for a longer period. The officer responded by stating that it is likely that negotiations will drag again, and the risk will remain high on the risk register until there is clarity on the outcome of the negotiations.

The Committee noted and commented on the risk register.

RESOLVED:

That:

That the Committee review the risk register and make any comments it wishes to make against individual risks.