Appendix 1: Risk assessment
| Nature of the Risk | Consequences of the Risk Occurring | Likelihood before mitigation (1:5) (A) | Severity / impact before mitigation (1:5) (B) | Inherent risk score (A * B) | Mitigation | Likelihood after mitigation (1:5) (C) | Severity / impact after mitigation (1:5) (D) | Post mitigation risk score (C * D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Resources to produce new Local Plan - loss of key staff due to sickness or moving to another job | Delay in timetable for delivery of the Local Plan | 3 | 4 | 12 | Regular review of staff work programmes. Bring in external support where appropriate. | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Changes to legislative framework or regulations – Government Planning White Paper (August 2020) | Additional requirements placed on the form and content of the Local Plan | 4 | 4 | 16 | Maintain close monitoring of any future Government announcements and take on board any necessary changes. | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Further Covid-19 pandemic lock-down or restrictions curtailing preparation work | Delays to preparation of evidence base, the Local Plan and/or consultation events | 3 | 3 | 9 | Ensure work programme and prioritisation of tasks is flexible to accommodate any potential future restrictions | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Reduction in Financial Resources required for Local Plan production (either in house council budgets or other external funding) | Delays in the production of the Local Plan | 5 | 4 | 20 | Budget planning to ensure cost effective delivery of the Local Plan. | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Joint working with neighbouring authorities and other organisations | Potential delays if key evidence base documents requiring joint working are not signed off by all relevant parties | 3 | 5 | 15 | Ensure robust approach to agreeing the briefs for any jointly commissioned evidence base/ studies. | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Potential third party challenges to the emerging new Local Plan (including any legal challenge when the plan is found sound) | Delays in the next stage of Local Plan development where consultation comments require further consideration of next steps. Delays resulting from a legal challenge whilst legal arguments are considered by the Planning Courts. | 2 | 5 | 10 | Ensure robust evidence base underpins policies and spatial approach of the Local Plan. Engage in any necessary robust defence if a legal challenge is made. | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Planning Inspectorate capacity to examine Local Plan | Delay to the examination of the Local Plan | 2 | 4 | 8 | Close liaison with the Planning Inspectorate in the run up to submission of the Local Plan. | 1 | 4 | 4 |