Issue - meetings

To consider a proposed way forward for the future delivery of the Business Continuity Management function.

The Committee considered proposed changes in committee responsibilities for the business continuity management function.

Business continuity had traditionally been reported through the Audit and Governance Committee due to its link to risk. However, it was now considered appropriate to report on business continuity to the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Committee, together with emergency planning issues which at present were not reported through to any committee. The role of scrutiny was to review policy and to challenge whether the executive had made the right decisions to deliver policy goals. This was different from the role of the Governance and Audit Committee which was to provide assurance that there were adequate controls in place to mitigate key risks. Therefore, it was felt that both committees should receive business continuity reports in pursuance of their respective roles.

The Committee also considered proposed changes to the organisational arrangements for dealing with business continuity.

RESOLVED

That the Constitution Committee be asked to consider recommending to Council that

(1)   responsibility for considering business continuity management issues be referred to the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Committee in relation to service issues, together with emergency planning issues, the latter of which at present are not reported through to any committee; and

(2)   business continuity remain on the agenda for the Audit and Governance Committee for risk management purposes as the Committee needs to be made aware of the arrangements in order to form a view on whether they are robust or not and at the very least as part of the training for Members, but possibly not as frequently as at present.