Agenda item

Report of The Chamberlain.

Members received a report of the Chamberlain which provided updates regarding the top risks within the Departmental Risk Register.

The Deputy Chairman (who also serves as Chairman of the Information Technology Sub Committee) said that he anticipated CR19 (IT Security Provision) was on course to be reduced from amber to green by the end of 2018. A reduction to amber for CR16 was dependent on the full introduction of The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was anticipated to happen at the end of April. A further reduction to green could be achieved by July.

Members were concerned that despite the efforts of the Chairman of Finance, and senior Officers, the direction of travel for CR23 (City of London Police Funding) was red. One Member queried whether the Deloitte Review was another case of “simply re-adjusting the deck chairs”, whilst another questioned whether the level of efficiencies proposed were realistic. In response, the Chairman stressed that considerable progress had been made, however there remained a great deal of work to do, “the essence of the message was that COLP was being given a year to implement the Deloitte findings and, the obligation on the Police to achieve the 2% efficiency target, was no different to any other department across the Corporation”.

The Chairman and the Chamberlain reassured Members that City officers were working closely with the Police to close the gap, and the Police had committed to the Transformation Programme and would collaborate fully with the Chamberlain and others to realise those changes. However, the current outlook was unsustainable in the long run; the variances dwarfed those of other departments across the Corporation, indeed, the longer-term risk was classified as red. (CR23 is classified as amber but it is limited to 2018/19 Financial Year only). The Chairman emphasised that a successful implementation of the findings in the Deloitte Report could work – but, crucially it was about the institutional will to ensure change happened.

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes the report.