Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to a report which reviewed the number, type and results of fraud investigations made by the Council during 2015/16.  The report also set out information regarding the revised delivery of Corporate Fraud Work and provided information on the overall effectiveness of the authority’s arrangements in relation to counter fraud and corruption.

By way of background and context it was noted that 2015/16 was the first year that the newly established West Lindsey Corporate Fraud Team had dealt with all corporate fraud issues, the staff having evolved from the Housing Benefit Fraud Investigations Unit whose work had now transferred in full to the Department for Works and Pensions. 

The Corporate Fraud Team was designed to be a self-financing unit of two officers both with fraud detection experience. The unit traded internally and externally, commissioning work from departments within West Lindsey and neighbouring Local Authorities.

It was noted that West Lindsey had worked in conjunction with City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven in 2015, undertaking investigations funded by the Lincolnshire County Counter Fraud unit to deliver a pilot scheme detecting and investigating Local Council Tax Reduction scheme fraud.  The pilot bid was to achieve savings of £65,000 across the three councils. 

Other work carried out by the Corporate Fraud Team during 2015/16 included Stage 3 complaints, staff investigations, investigating referrals from the DWP Housing Benefit Matching Service and making referrals and dealing with information requests from the Department for Works and Pensions fraud team.

The WLDC Corporate Fraud future work would include corporate issues in line with the now disbanded Audit Commission’s advice to acknowledge that fraud takes place, to take measures to prevent those frauds taking place and to actively pursue fraudulent activity within the Local Authority. 

Sections 3 and 4 of the report analysed further both Council Tax Support Investigations and other Corporate Fraud activity undertaken during 2015/16 

In conclusion the Committee noted the work the team would be undertaking during 2016/17 which included looking further at Local Council Tax Support Fraud, Business Rates discounts, a proactive drive to include other departments looking at empty homes, tenancy fraud (homeless applications), council tax payers/council tax exemptions and new Local Council Tax Support claims.

Furthermore a pilot scheme has been agreed with Boston Borough Council to provide an investigation service looking at their Local Council Tax Supports fraud cases commencing July 2016.

Further promotion of the service internally and externally would be undertaken through the Summer and Autumn months.

The Committee welcomed the report however views were sought as to whether in light of the changed thrust of the report from previous years, whether it was now more appropriate for it to be submitted to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee, in light of its commercial nature.

The general consensus was that the Commercial element of the report was more appropriate for Policy Committee consideration, however the Committee would still welcome an annual report on the number of cases undertaken.

Members also commented on the reassurance the report offered in that it demonstrated the Authority would pursue non-compliance.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the 2015/16 results be noted and the plan going forward to include corporate fraud investigations be supported; and

(b)       in the future the commercial element of the report be submitted to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.