To consider the six monthly update from the Counter Fraud Unit. 

34.1           Attention was drawn to the report of the Head of Finance and Asset Management, circulated at Pages No. 19-22, which provided assurance over the counter fraud activities of the Council.  Members were asked to consider the six monthly update from the Counter Fraud Unit and make comments as necessary.

34.2           The Chair welcomed Emma Cathcart, Counter Fraud Manager from the Counter Fraud Unit, to the meeting.  Members were reminded that the Counter Fraud Unit was working directly on behalf of all of the Gloucestershire authorities, West Oxfordshire District Council and other public sector bodies.  The Counter Fraud Unit provided the Audit Committee with biannual updates – for Tewkesbury Borough Council this was at the July and December meetings.  Since the start of the financial year, the Counter Fraud Unit had supported the Council in a number of areas including the introduction of a new Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme Penalty and Prosecution Policy; reviewing the Council Tax properties listed as long term empty; reviewing composite properties i.e. those which were both a business and residential accommodation; processing National Fraud Initiative referrals matching single person discount accounts against the Electoral Register; investigation of employment matters with an element of fraud; drafting of a new procedural document in relation to the internal investigation processes and Disciplinary Policy; reviewing staff expenses; and Member training to introduce the Counter Fraud Unit and provide general fraud awareness.  The Counter Fraud Manager explained that the Counter Fraud Unit was trying to work better with different departments on areas of risk and adding value.  A new corporate enforcement policy was being drafted which would facilitate holistic working and fraud awareness training would be provided for all staff in the New Year.

34.3           A Member questioned whether the Counter Fraud Unit had identified any areas of risk which needed to be tightened up.  The Counter Fraud Manager explained that nothing significant had been identified; however, it was important to recognise that, once you started to investigate, fraud would inevitably be found.  The Counter Fraud Unit gave consideration to general risk and controls and any areas where the Unit could add value - assistance was provided in terms of putting prosecutions together and acting impartially in internal investigations.  Work was being done with different departments around best practice and ensuring that staff and members of the public understood the Council’s policy on whistleblowing.  There had been a recent change in serious and organised crime, with gangs moving out of the big cities and into rural areas, and that was something which the Council needed to be aware of.

34.4           A Member sought further information on the Corporate Enforcement Policy and was advised that One Legal had asked for the current policy to be reviewed; it was an overarching policy which set out how the Council would undertake prosecutions and would sit alongside the various departmental enforcement policies.  The Member went on to question what action was taken in respect of people claiming single person discount on their Council Tax when they were not entitled to do so.  The Counter Fraud Manager confirmed that the Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Penalty and Prosecution Policy had been brought to the Audit Committee meeting in July and was approved by the Executive Committee in August; this outlined all of the options available to the Revenues and Benefits team including civil penalties.  The Member questioned who would consider the Corporate Enforcement Policy, and whether the public would be made aware of it, and was advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed to review the policy prior to consideration by the Executive Committee - both of these meetings were open to the public and the policy would be published on the Council’s website.  In terms of Council Tax specifically, the Counter Fraud Manager pointed out that the public were notified about the Council’s expectations when they were filling in forms to apply for discounts, and on the reverse of their Council Tax bills.

34.5           It was

RESOLVED          That the six monthly update from the Counter Fraud Unit be NOTED.