The Overview Management and Scrutiny Committee of East Riding of Yorkshire Council met on Thursday 17 September 2026. The meeting's agenda included a review of the council's revenue and capital budget position for the third month of the financial year, as well as discussions on town and parish council communications. Additionally, the committee was scheduled to consider the council's strategic risk register.

Month Three Revenue and Capital Budget Position

The committee was scheduled to receive a report detailing the council's financial performance at the third month of the 2026-27 financial year. The report indicated a projected £1.4 million underspend in the General Fund, largely attributed to an underspend within the Prosperity and Place directorate, partially offset by an overspend in Children, Families and Schools. However, the report cautioned that this was an early forecast, with future monitoring needing to distinguish between recurring improvements and one-off benefits.

A significant area of concern highlighted was the Schools Budget, which was forecast to have an in-year deficit of £17.8 million, primarily within the High Needs Block. This was attributed to the increasing cost and complexity of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision not being fully met by government funding. The Housing Revenue Account was also forecast to overspend by £1.2 million, mainly due to repairs and financing costs.

The capital programme was noted to total £609.5 million, with proposed changes reducing the forecast expenditure for 2026-27. The report emphasised that while the council's financial position had strengthened, the wider financial outlook remained challenging, with ongoing pressures from demand-led services, workforce costs, and inflation.

The report also detailed supplementary budget requests totalling £7.2 million, primarily relating to externally funded grant schemes such as Homes for Ukraine, Pathways for Potential, and the Trees for Climate programme. These were intended to align budgets with confirmed grant funding.

Town and Parish Council Communication

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of communication between East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) and its Town and Parish Councils (T&PCs). The report highlighted the development and impact of the Parish Open Door (POD) service and the Streetscene Hub (SHub), as well as findings from the 2026 Town and Parish Council survey.

The POD service, established in January 2024, had received 681 emails between April and August 2026, indicating continued engagement. While most enquiries were resolved or referred within two working days, the report noted that demand for POD had slightly reduced since the introduction of the SHub, which provides an alternative route for reporting routine issues. POD had expanded its role to include proactive engagement, such as webinars on topics relevant to T&PCs, and had strengthened its relationship with the council's Communications Team.

Cluster events, delivered by the POD service, had seen increased attendance and positive feedback, with an average event rating of 9.2 out of 10. Common themes from feedback included appreciation for direct contact with council officers, the approachability of staff, and the value of having multiple services present in one location.

The SHub, established in November 2024, managed approximately 5,694 contacts between November 2024 and March 2026, with 88% of enquiries completed within target timescales. The report proposed relocating the SHub to County Hall to improve accessibility for councillors and strengthen links with existing POD and member support arrangements.

The 2026 survey indicated that communication remains a key issue for T&PCs, with a desire for more direct contact, improved responsiveness, and greater transparency. Email was the primary communication channel, used by 95% of respondents. The survey also highlighted a desire for more collaborative working, with respondents asking for greater consultation before decisions affecting their communities are made.

The report detailed the implementation of previous recommendations, including the proactive advertising of the POD service, the inclusion of ward councillors in emailed newsletters, and the deferral of the Town and Parish Charter refresh until after the implementation of Community Governance Review boundary changes.

Strategic Risk Register Review Quarter 1 - 2026-27

The committee was scheduled to review the council's Strategic Risk Register as of the end of June 2026. The register identified 17 strategic risks, with 5 rated as 'red', 11 as 'amber', and none as 'green'. Two new risks had been added: SR/10 concerning the implementation of an enterprise approach to data, and SR/17 relating to the delivery of a health and safety framework. One risk score, SR/08, had decreased.

The five 'red' risks were:

• SR/01: Containing spend within budget and delivery of a sustainable financial plan.
• SR/03: Managing system partnership challenges and increased costs due to structural changes in the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (HNYICB).
• SR/05: Implementation of effective business change programmes in response to the council's financial emergency/recovery.
• SR/10: Implementation of an enterprise approach to data, its governance and use.
• SR/17: Delivery of a health and safety framework that supports the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and residents.

Risk SR/04, concerning improvements to adult social care following a Section 50 notice, had been temporarily removed while an improvement plan was in effect. The report noted that the council's financial position had improved, but significant medium-term financial risks remained, particularly concerning the Schools Budget and Housing Revenue Account. The report also highlighted ongoing challenges with the Unit4 ERPx (FLEX) new finance system programme and PCI-DSS compliance.

The review of the ecological emergency risk (SR/06) indicated steady progress in meeting statutory requirements, with a focus on delivery and strengthened governance. However, challenges remained in biodiversity loss and Local Wildlife Site management. The risk associated with the HNYICB (SR/03) highlighted operational disruption and backlogs due to new referral and approval pathways for joint funding. The risk related to adult social care improvements (SR/04) remained significant, with a three-month extension of external oversight following a recent review. The implementation of business change programmes (SR/05) was noted as challenging, with increased savings targets and ongoing financial pressures. The climate emergency risk (SR/06) remained unchanged, with a focus on adaptation and resilience due to increasing extreme weather events. The risk concerning council housing landlord services (SR/07) was newly added, with the council achieving a 'C2' rating in its first Regulator of Social Housing inspection, though areas for improvement were identified. The risk of cyber security breaches (SR/09) remained high, with ongoing threats from ransomware and identity compromise. The new risk concerning data governance (SR/10) was in development, with KRIs being drafted. The health and wellbeing risk (SR/11) remained active due to falling vaccination coverage, childhood obesity, and system changes. The risk of facilitating economic resilience (SR/12) was unchanged, with challenges including increased energy costs and youth unemployment. The risk of providing children's services (SR/13) remained high due to workforce instability and the pace of the Families First Partnership Programme. The risk concerning education outcomes (SR/14) was also unchanged, with ongoing reforms to SEND provision and reliance on government timelines. The risk of emergency and business continuity plans (SR/15) remained unchanged, with ongoing monitoring of emerging threats and a focus on improving plan review schedules. The risk of workforce recruitment and retention (SR/16) remained challenging, with ongoing efforts in workforce planning and performance management. The new risk concerning health and safety frameworks (SR/17) was also in development, with KRIs being established.