Developing a risk management framework within Ħad Dingli local council

Abstract

Local Councils are described as Local Governments. This means that politics plays a main role in the formation of a Council, policy formulation and administration. Risks are part and parcel of every action and every occurance, therefore those people given the mandate to govern have the responsibilty to assess risks and take the necessary actions whether a chance to ride the wave of an opportunity or preparing defensive tactics against threats. This responsibilty trickles down to the bottom layer of an entity. A thorough study was carried out in a particular entity, Had-Dingli Local Council. Although small in size, the risks encountered and the processes to mitigate them are very near or sometimes even similar to larger entities. Various research methods were used to gather information with regards to risks and processes that should be undertaken by the entity. The obtained results illustrated how the Local Council do consider risks but seldom puts pen to paper any procedures. Expertise in specific projects is sought and therefore reports are presented but this is limited to just a particular area of the holistic operations performed by the Council. The entity under study does not operate in a vacuum and thus factors that may have an effect on the Council's operations were also given particular attention. A main player which was given due consideration is the Central Government. By the means of the Department for Local Government and the respective legislation, the Council was being kept under scrutiny so to perform within the given regulations and legislations. This was not always beneficial since a number of grey areas were identified. With the help of results and other information obtained from various sources, it was possible to find solutions and apply them to the current operations undertaken by the entity. Although risks could not be eliminated completely, but by the means of actions and even frameworks, the entity would have the adequate knowledge and tools to be proactive when facing or foreseeing any risky situation.