Decision details

The Committee received an update on the Strategic Risk Register following a review by the Corporate Leadership Team to ensure alignment with the Cheshire East Plan and the Improvement and Transformation Delivery Plan.

Members noted that the register now contained 16 strategic risks, including financial sustainability, the Dedicated Schools Grant deficit, organisational change, leadership capacity, and information security. Two new risks were highlighted: devolution and the transition to the Leader and Cabinet governance model. The Committee discussed the interdependencies between risks and the importance of robust mitigation and monitoring arrangements.

The committee reviewed the Strategic Risks and identified that SR15 Capital Projects Management and Delivery should be added to the Committee Work Programme for detailed consideration during its meeting in March 2026. It was agreed that this deep dive should also include Children’s and Adults and that social care should be looked at holistically. Officers agreed to draft the scope for the session and share with Committee Members in advance.

Some concerns were raised with the combining of three key Children’s risks into one (SR03 – Complexity and Demand for Children’s Services, SEND Inspection and Delivery of the ILACS Improvement Plan) and the impact this would have on monitoring risk levels in three separate areas. Officers agreed to pass this feedback onto the Executive Director – Children’s Services, for further consideration.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Corporate Policy Committee

1. Note the position of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register to the end of Q2 2025-26 in respect of the content, description, scoring and risk management activity outlined.

2. Agree that SR15 be added to the Committee Work Programme for detailed consideration during the Corporate Policy Committee meeting in March 2026.