Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council submitted a report on the action taken to mitigate and control strategic risks in the period April to June 2014.

The Manager of Corporate Risk referred to the difficulties in reporting this information in a more timely manner.  He stated that the risk management monitoring report to Members on 26 November 2014 would cover the period up to 30 September 2014.

The Chairman raised the issue of “Universal Credit” and sought clarification on what progress was being made.  The Director of Finance and Support Services explained that there was still very little information available and that pilot initiatives were ongoing in some areas.  The Director stated that Universal Credit would be a very difficult system to administer because of the various caveats which had to be taken into account.  The External Auditor confirmed that as yet, there was a lack of clarity around the system.

In response to a query from Councillor D Andrews regarding Universal Credit, its “mobility” and “transferring in”, the Director of Finance and Support Services explained that Hertfordshire, as an area, was a very expensive place to live and it was unlikely that people moving into the area would already be in receipt of Universal Credit.

In response to a query from the Chairman and the suggestion of having to factor this into the 2015/2016, Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), the Director of Finance and Support Services explained that a prudent approach would be taken but that there was still insufficient information about the system.  The Director assured Members that information was reported and shared via the Joint Revenues and Benefits meetings.  At those meetings the complexity of Universal Credit and its application was discussed and of the impact this might have in terms of data changes.  The Chairman referred to the ongoing lobbying regarding the need only to record significant changes.  The Director of Finance and Support Services confirmed that officers were also lobbying about this.

In response to a query from Councillor D Andrews regarding increased workload and its effect on the Council’s “Front Desk”, the Director of Finance and Support Services confirmed that additional funds had been allocated to customer services support for the last two years. 

The Committee approved the report, as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that the actions taken to mitigate and control strategic risks, as now detailed, be approved.