Steve O’Rourke, Managing Director of QRMC Risk Management, has first hand knowledge of the ups and downs of Local Government management across Australia.
Having worked closely with councils both as a consulting engineer and business advisory consultant, he has experienced the operational issues and pressures on councils, and the ever increasing regulatory frameworks within which Local Governments must operate.
Sometimes the number of management, governance and compliance activities that need to be simultaneously administered can seem overwhelming, and focus and priority are the first casualties.
However, Steve recommends that a well crafted risk management program can be used to assist with the prioritisation and integration of these requirements.
To achieve full value in this way, the risk management program needs to take a holistic view of the council’s operations across all levels.
Risk registers for corporate and operational areas should be separate, to facilitate strategic focus and the appropriate level of management involvement, however the risk identification methodology across all levels of council remains consistent and captures actions which support all of council’s management systems.
Documented risk controls then identify the specific actions required to mitigate risk and maintain good governance and compliance.
The implementation of these controls will serve as a lead indicator to the risk management process, and should also provide the foundation for the compliance and improvement activities required for other management systems and governance obligations.
Planning activities, monitoring and review schedules, and treatment action plan timeframes should be aligned to council’s planning and budgeting cycles.
This will ensure that the planned actions to support the risk management program and all other governance and management systems are appropriately resourced.
*Copy supplied by QRMC Risk Management
