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.

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; procurement; accounts; Council Tax discount/reduction schemes; business rates; adult social care financial assessments; direct payments; cash handling; electoral fraud; school admission application fraud; grant mechanisms to individuals and organisations; and blue badges and concessionary travel. Members were advised that the Local Government Transparency Code required the Council to publish data regarding its fraud arrangements, and this information was published on the Council’s web site.

It was noted that the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy allowed for employees, agency workers and contractors to raise concerns confidentially through a variety of channels. Three such complaints were received during 2018/19; 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 a slight increase in the number of referrals in 2018/19, with a summary set out in the report. However, although there had been an increase, the number of referrals intended for the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) had reduced by more than half, and this reduction was believed to be due to improvements which the Council had made to the online confidential reporting system.

It was reported that the Council was in the process of reviewing data matches from the 2018/19 National Fraud Initiative (NFI) exercise and the Business Rates pilot, operated by the Cabinet Office.  Details of the areas to which data matches related, were set out in the report and it was noted that each match would be assessed and investigated if there was an indication that fraud had occurred.

            A new electronic fraud management system had been introduced to aid in the investigation process and to ensure that fraud investigators remained compliant with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. In April 2019, the Council commenced joint working with the DWP to jointly investigate frauds which involved DWP Benefits and Council Tax Relief. It was reported that since the new arrangement had commenced, four cases had been considered for joint working.

            The Council had a comprehensive suite of linked policies relating to fraud. These polices, last considered and approved by the Board in November 2017, had been reviewed and some minor changes proposed. Each of these policies, attached to the report at Appendices A, B and C, were also contained in the Council’s Constitution document.

            RESOLVED: That

1)    the report be noted; and

2)    Council be recommended to endorse and adopt the proposed updates to the suite of anti-fraud related plans and policies.