Issue - meetings

          The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which provided an update on the Council’s anti-fraud and anti-corruption arrangements.

It was reported that the Board was responsible for the monitoring and review of the Council’s anti-fraud and anti-corruption arrangements. The Board was advised that the level of identified fraud in Halton remained relatively low compared to other authorities of a similar size and profile. The main areas of the Council’s business thought to be susceptible to fraud and corruption were detailed in the report and included insurance claims; cash handing and accounts; Council Tax discount/reduction schemes; blue badges; business rates; and adult social care financial assessments. Members were informed that details of frauds/attempted frauds detected, had been reported to CIPFA in their annual Fraud and Corruption Tracker.

It was further noted that the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy allowed for employees, agency workers and contractors to raise concerns confidentially through a variety of channels. Five such complaints had been received during 2017/18 and these were detailed in the report with the outcomes alongside. In addition to this, the Council operated a confidential reporting system through which members of the public could submit concerns relating to fraud, misconduct or other issues. There had been an increase in the number of referrals in 2017/18, with a summary of details set out in the report.

It was reported that the Council was in the process of submitting datasets for the 2018/19 National Fraud Initiative (NFI) exercise. Outcomes from the previous exercise undertaken in 2016/17 were reported to the Board in November 2017. Data for the Business Rates pilot had been submitted to the Cabinet Office with results on matches expected by the end of September 2018.

Following a restructure of the Finance Department in July 2017, two Fraud Officers were now located within the Audit and Investigations Team. It was reported that the arrangement had worked well and that the team had developed an ongoing plan of work. The Council’s Fraud Sanction and Prosecution Policy, approved by the Board in November 2017, allowed the Council to impose a financial penalty where a person had supplied incorrect information. To date, nine penalties had been issued totalling £840.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.