Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Risk Management

Risk can be defined as the possibility of something happening, or not happening, that would have an impact on an organisation’s ability to meet its strategic or operational objectives.

The council understands the importance of effective risk management and has a risk management strategy and an embedded risk management process.

The advantages of effective risk management are:

• helping to meet strategic objectives and corporate priorities
• enabling better decision making
• facilitating effective control of public funds
• promoting better corporate governance
• generating better value for money.

As part of the annual service planning cycle, managers review risks as part of a standard methodology commonly used in the public sector. The council’s management team regularly reviews strategic risks. Both of these activities include the development of risk mitigation actions designed to reduce the likelihood and/or consequences of adverse events occurring. By understanding risks, the council can be more confident about undertaking ventures which produce larger gains, such as jointly providing services with other councils.

The council’s approach to risk management is overseen by the Audit and Governance Committee.  This committee receives updates on strategic and operational risks, considers internal audits reports on risk management, and also receives reports from the Audit Commission relating to the annual Comprehensive Area Assessment.

Executive has approved the new risk management strategy for 2009 to 2012 which can be found using the link on the right.  An overview of the Council’s risk management process is included within the risk management strategy.