A NEW risk register has been set up by Powys County Council (PCC) to deal specifically with coronavirus, the cabinet has been told.

Covid-19 has been added to the list of risks addressed by the register, which the council uses to monitor significant issues it may come up against.

It joins other potential problems it may come up against, such as the impact of Brexit, the cyber security threat, any negative inspection reports the council may receive, housing stock maintenance and management of budget cuts.

Regular reports to the council allow it to monitor the level of risk it is facing.

A report confirming the addition of the coronavirus to the list of risks was presented to the council's cabinet on Tuesday. There are 62 specific risks on the Covid-19 register.

They also heard that head of finance Jane Thomas and finance portfolio holder Councillor Aled Davies are to become the new guardians of the risk register, taking over from head of transformation and communication Emma Palmer, and portfolio holder for corporate governance and engagement, Councillor Graham Breeze.

Ms Thomas said: “Cabinet should note that there is a new risk register that was introduced on May 24 that highlighted and identified all of the risks associated with Covid 19.

“That register is being reviewed on a weekly basis through the various command mechanisms within the council.”

Cllr Davies added: “We’ll be sharing this report with the audit committee at some stage and we’ve already taken the Covid Risk Register to them to seek their comments and to keep them fully informed.

“We will never get rid of risks entirely but it’s about understanding what we are dealing with.

“I hope all he portfolio holders are happy with the mitigating action being taken by their services.”