Policies and Procedures

Risk Assessment

HOUGH ON THE HILL PARISH COUNCIL - RISK ASSESSMENT

Reviewed 21st May 2015 and 13.5.21

1 Introduction

1 The Council is expected to carry out an annual assessment of the financial risks it is exposed to and identify any actions it considers necessary to minimise those risks.
2 The following table attempts to identify the risks involved and recommends the necessary actions. The list is not exhaustive and Council may wish to consider other risks not identified.

Service Area	Risk	Recommendation
Insurance	Public Liability (statutory)	Cover per company advice
	Employers Liability (statutory)	Cover per company advice
	Money	Cover per company advice
	Fidelity Guarantee	Cover per company advice
	Loss of revenue.	Cover per company advice
	Officials Indemnity.	Cover per company advice
	Libel & Slander	Cover per company advice
	Personal Accident.	Cover per company advice
Payroll	Loss of data on PC due to system fault.	Continue to back up data after each payroll run. Linked to HMRC for regularly obtaining up to date versions of program.
Payroll	Loss of services of employee.	Immediately advertise any vacancy (if permanent loss)
Administration	Payment arrangements	Continue with requirement to report all payments to Council for approval (some confirmed at precept determination). Continue with requirement for two signatories to initial cheque stubs and receipts/payments schedules.
	Reconciliation	Continue with bank reconciliation to be carried out at each meeting.
	Loss of data	Periodically back up onto stick.
Recreation Grounds	Loss of use of play equipment. Accidents on recreation grounds.	Continue with regular maintenance and safety checks and take unsafe equipment out of service until repairs carried out. Have annual inspection by appropriate qualified company. Keep litter free, check fields for trip hazards.
Precept	Adequacy of precept.	Sound budgeting to set precept annually at January meeting and then continue to present budget –v- actual expenditure twice yearly.
	Inadequate monitoring of performance.	Continue to regularly consider budget monitoring report (half yearly).
	Illegal expenditure.	Continue to ensure that all expenditure is within legal powers.
Trees	Damage to persons by falling branches or trees	Tree inspection programme in place.
Accounting	Non-standard and/or non-compliant records kept.	Continue to require adequate, complete and statutory financial records and accounts using recommended Accounts system.
	Non-compliance with statutory deadlines for the completion/approval/submission of accounts and other financial returns.	Continue to ensure that all accounts and returns are completed and submitted by the deadlines.
	Non-compliance with internal audit requirements.	Appoint internal auditor.
Contracts	Ensure continued value for money coupled with continuity of work.	Approve the practice of seeking tenders for grounds maintenance every three years. Tenders to be opened by the Clerk and reported to next available Council meeting.