To consider the annual update on the work of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit. 

13.1          The report of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Head of Service, circulated at Pages No. 133-142, provided an annual update on the work of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit.  Members were asked to consider the report.

13.2          The Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Head of Service advised that, since the last report to the Committee, the team had assisted with a successful prosecution relating to unauthorised works on a listed building.  In relation to the workstreams detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, a review of the Gifts and Hospitality Procedure had been completed and a revised online form, which focussed on intent, would be introduced and staff awareness raised.  The Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit had also issued a vetting and recruitment risk report to HR for consideration to ensure they were undertaking the right checks on new staff etc. and the HR and OD Manager had confirmed there were robust practices in place.  The team had also been assisting with verification of the energy rebate payments – people who did not pay their Council Tax by direct debit had to apply for the money so it was important to carry out checks to ensure that the people applying were actually living in the properties etc.  Paragraph 3 of the report contained information regarding the annual update on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) which related to surveillance and communications data.  Paragraph 3.3 of the report stated that the RIPA Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Source Policy had recently been updated to reflect minor changes in relation to undercover agents being able to commit crime whilst working undercover which did not apply to the authority.  The Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit would be delivering refresher training to relevant enforcement staff on the new policies.

13.3          A Member drew attention to Page No. 135, Paragraph 2.1 of the report which stated that the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit had received 10 referrals and she asked whether those came from staff or members of the public.  In response, the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Head of Service clarified that this related only to business grants and not the general work of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit so the intel would have come from the staff processing the applications.  It was noted there was a separate referral regime for the Council Tax support scheme.  The Member congratulated the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit on the successful prosecution but expressed the view that the £613 costs awarded was a bit light.  The Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Head of Service confirmed that the Council had put in for full costs but, unfortunately, could not influence the decision of the Court in terms of what was awarded.  The Member went on to draw attention to the 2022/23 work programme, set out at Page No. 142 of the report, and asked why the review of the housing waiting list would only apply to silver band properties.  In response, the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Head of Service explained that the review of emergency and gold bands was carried out first and the outcomes of this had already been reported to the Committee.  In response to a query as to how people without bank accounts would receive energy rebate payments, Members were advised that it was hoped there would not be many people in that situation but, for those who were, the money could be credited to their Council Tax accounts; the difficulty would arise for those who did not pay Council Tax but the majority of people would have some sort of account, for instance, a post office account.  The Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Head of Service provided assurance that Officers were doing all they could to ensure anyone who was eligible and applied for the funding did receive it.

13.4          It was

RESOLVED           That the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit annual report be NOTED.