Issue - meetings

Counter Fraud Update

Meeting: 11/03/2019 - Audit and Risk Committee (Item 11)

11 Audit Services - Counter Fraud Update pdf icon PDF 511 KB

[To note the latest Audit Services Counter Fraud update]

Minutes:

Mark Wilkes, Audit Business Partner presented the update report on current counter fraud activities undertaken by Audit Services. 

 

The Chair asked whether the Council carried out anti money laundering Right to Buy Checks.  The Audit Business Partner said they were made for any right to buy application, to make sure that the money the Council received was legitimate.  Peter Farrow, Head of Audit added that the checks were useful for identifying undeclared income and therefore helpful in detecting benefit fraud.

 

Councillor Sohail Khan asked whether council house tenants moving on without settling their outstanding rents/council tax or notifying the Council of their move, should be included in the risk register.  The Audit Business Partner reported that this issue would be dealt with through the Council’s debt recovery procedures.   

 

The Chair asked if it could be quantified how much the Council was potentially not receiving through this type of fraud.  Claire Nye, Director of Finance reported that the Council would have reasons for any amounts it wrote off. She undertook to check available data within the Council Tax team.

 

The Chair also asked how the five tenancy subletting cases referred to in the report had been identified.  The Audit Business Partner reported that they came through referrals via the hot line; from Wolverhampton Homes officers whilst visiting properties; and from contractors carrying out work at council properties.

 

Resolved:

That the contents of the latest Audit Services Counter Fraud Update be noted.