Wandsworth Council has implemented a significant overhaul of its risk management system, moving from a manual, biannual process to a more dynamic, digital, and quarterly framework. This strategic review aims to enhance transparency, improve risk analysis, and facilitate better oversight and challenge of risks.
The new system incorporates a digital platform for risk recording and assessment, allowing for more detailed analysis and challenge of individual risks. This shift is a response to feedback from members and senior officers who highlighted a need for greater visibility of risk reporting and a modernization of processes. The platform is designed to identify and manage a broad spectrum of risks, requiring directors and service heads to self-moderate, with the system enabling enhanced analysis and challenge of these assessments. It also introduces the capture of inherent risk scores and risk appetite scores, starting at a service head level and building up to departmental risk registers.
Kevin Holland, Assistant Director for Fraud, Risk and Insurance, explained that the new framework requires directors and service heads to self-moderate risks. To ensure effectiveness, training and drop-in sessions are being held for users, with feedback actively welcomed to adjust the platform. Additionally, free training days are available from insurers, and the council is seeking their expertise to provide an online training session for service managers on identifying key service risks.
Councillor Mrs. Melanie Hampton expressed concerns about the potential for rubbish in, rubbish out
with digital transformation, questioning how the council would ensure the new platform enhanced, rather than deteriorated, its risk management offering. Mr. Holland assured the committee that the platform's design would allow for greater analysis and challenge, with directors and service heads moderating their own risks.
The corporate risk register was also discussed during the meeting. It was noted that the register is a published document. The committee reviewed the process for setting risk appetite, with concerns raised about the potential for it to be averaged across different service areas. Councillor Stephen Worrall highlighted the 'moderate' risk appetite for operational innovation, suggesting it should be higher given the need for significant change at pace. Councillor Davies raised a pertinent point regarding outsourced services, questioning whether the risk management framework adequately considered the input of third-party suppliers. Mr. Holland acknowledged this as a shortfall that would be developed further.
Councillor Annamarie Critchard requested that the progress of the new risk management approach be reviewed at the next committee meeting. She also questioned the input of members into the corporate risk register and suggested that the relevant papers be forwarded to Cabinet, Shadow Cabinet, and Chairs of Committees for their review. The committee agreed to note and comment on the corporate risk register and the progress on the risk management approach and digital platform.
The committee's review of the corporate risk register and progress on the risk management approach and digital platform was noted and commented upon. The full details of the discussions can be found in the public reports pack for the Audit Committee meeting held on 30th July 2026 Public reports pack 30th Jul 2026 19:30 Audit Committee.