Issue - meetings

[To note the contents of the latest Audit Services Counter Fraud update]

Mark Wilkes, Audit Business Partner presented the update report on current counter fraud activities undertaken by Audit Service since the last meeting. In doing so he highlighted the work on the National Fraud Initiative Exercise, the Council’s involvement in a National Fraud Initiative HMRC pilot, and work of the Counter Fraud Team on tenancy fraud.

The Chair said that it is to the credit of the Council that it was one of only ten local authorities to take part in the pilot National Fraud Initiative exercise where HMRC data is matched to the Council’s data for the first time.

Councillor Lynne Moran welcomed the performance of the Counter Fraud Team in stopping tenancy fraud during the quarter. She said that given the number of people who need social housing, it was disconcerting to hear that there needed to be three council house Right to Buy sales for one local authority built house. Anything the Council could do to prevent fraudulent right to buy applications was a good thing.

Resolved:

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