Adelaide City Council recently won a major LGA Mutual Liability Scheme award for its innovative approach to business planning and its assessment and management of risk. Council was presented with the Scheme’s Risk Management Award 2002 for its Business Plan and Risk Management Database.
An independent panel of judges said the database was exemplary in displaying and applying the principles of risk management within the Local Government industry.
The database project integrates business and strategic planning with risk management, providing a tool for managers to assess and manage risks. It also identifies opportunities and prioritises resources to high risk areas. Council’s Acting Manager Executive Support, Kym Williams, said the database was already being used across the Council to assess and manage risks associated with a range of projects and activities.
“Managers and staff now have a simple, useful tool to manage a range of risks, from those which may affect day to day operations and Council businesses, to those associated with undertaking major work in the State’s capital city,” Kym Williams said. “We are finding more widespread staff acceptance of the need to manage risks and the database ensures no stones are left unturned. It also allows us to put most of our energy into minimising high risk issues.”
By assigning ‘rankings’ to various elements of a Council project, teams can determine the likelihood and consequences of each risk. A model is then prepared which rates the risks and design actions to address each of the risk areas. The focus is on those areas that are most likely to have a far reaching or significant impact.
The award was presented at the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Annual Conference held in Adelaide in October. Council received a trophy and a cheque for $7,700 to further enhance the database. It is expected that the model will be made available to other Councils for their use.
For further information contact Kym Williams on (08) 8203 7777.
