The Powys Council's Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, to discuss the Corporate Strategic and Equalities Plan (CSEP) Q1 performance, the Strategic Risk Register Q1 report, and Cabinet responses to scrutiny recommendations. The committee confirmed its recommendations to the cabinet on the CSEP Quarter 1 Performance Report and the Strategic Risk Register Q1 Report. They also reviewed and noted the Cabinet's responses to previous scrutiny recommendations.

Corporate Strategic and Equalities Plan (CSEP) Q1 Performance

The committee received and considered the Corporate Strategic and Equality Plan (CSEP) Scorecard for Quarter 1 Performance of 2025-2026. The CSEP sets out the council's strategic priorities and objectives, and the scorecard monitors progress against these goals. The committee reviewed the Q1 performance report to assess whether the council is on track to achieve its targets.

The committee also confirmed its recommendations to the cabinet on the Corporate Strategic and Equality Plan (CSEP) Quarter 1 Performance Report (2025-26).

Strategic Risk Register Q1 Report

The committee received and scrutinised the Strategic Risk Register reports. The Strategic Risk Register identifies the key risks facing the council and outlines the measures being taken to mitigate those risks. The committee reviewed the Q1 report to assess the effectiveness of the council's risk management arrangements.

The committee also confirmed its recommendations to the cabinet on the Strategic Risk Register Q1 Report.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 3rd July 2025, provide some context to the discussion. At that meeting, Councillor David Thomas, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Transformation, introduced the Quarter 4 Strategic Risk Register and accompanying report.

It was explained that the report contained 12 strategic risks, with an additional two risks scheduled for discussion in a confidential session due to their sensitive nature.

Key points raised by the committee during the previous meeting included:

• Risk Management Process: Officers explained that risks were initially identified at service level. If a risk scored highly it was escalated to the Strategic Risk Register.
• Emerging Risks: Officers confirmed that Members, as part of their scrutiny role, could suggest risks they believed were missing.
• Risk Review Frequency: Risks were reviewed routinely through service management meetings and quarterly performance reviews with Portfolio Holders.
• Risk Owner Accountability: Accountability was maintained through regular performance and risk review meetings at Head of Service, Director, and Portfolio Holder levels.
• Risk Removal: Risks were removed when officers were confident that the risk no longer existed or had been sufficiently mitigated.
• Register Monitoring: The Governance and Audit Committee conducted deep dives into individual risks.
• Climate Emergency (EDR0011): Officers confirmed that the publication of the Net Zero Route Map in Q4 2025 would help reduce the risk score.
• Nature Emergency (HTR0018): Officers confirmed that as the Nature Recovery Plan was implemented and more actions were delivered, the risk score should reduce.
• Financial Sustainability (FIN0001): The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Transformation explained that Sustainable Powys was designed to enable the Council to continue delivering valued services within its financial envelope.
• Adult Social Care System (ASC0064): Officers explained that a comprehensive implementation plan had been developed for the transition to the new adult social care system.
• Property and Compliance (PPP0030 & PPP0031): Officers explained that capital funding was prioritised in line with the Council's Asset Management Strategy.
• Education Risk (EDU0056): The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Transformation clarified that the education risk had been escalated from the service risk register to the strategic register due to an increase in the number of schools in Estyn categories[^2]. [^2]: Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales.
• Workforce and Recruitment (WO0022): Officers reported that many previously hard-to-fill roles had been successfully recruited to.
• Future Shocks: Officers confirmed that the Council had business continuity plans in place across all services.

Cabinet Responses to Scrutiny Recommendations

The committee noted the Cabinet responses to Scrutiny Recommendations from the meeting held on the 11th June 2025.