Issue - meetings

To provide the Audit and Standards Committee with assurance over the counter fraud activities of the Council in relation to the work undertaken by the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit.

The report also provides the Audit and Standards Committee with the updates in relation to the work streams associated with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) and the Council’s existing authorisation arrangements.

The Head of Service, Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit provided a brief update on the work their team had been completing and highlighted the following key points:

• 2.4 on page 10 of the reports pack outlined the Member Code of Conduct investigation that had been completed.
• 2.6 detailed that work that had begun regarding earnings information declared for the purpose of Test and Trace payments and Council Tax Support claims.
• 2.8 outlined the progress relating to the review of National Fraud Initiatives (NFI) data matching referrals on behalf of Revenues and Benefits.
• A report regarding the enforcement of Housing and Tenancy Fraud by the Council on behalf of Social Housing Providers within the district was approved at Housing Committee as detailed in 2.10.
• 2.15 onwards included an update which related to processes and activities in relation to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016.

The Head of Service, Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit advised that at the last committee meeting there was a question raised regarding the information provided at the bottom of the Council Tax bills issued to residents. She confirmed that there was a note on the bottom reminding residents to update the Council regarding any changes that affected discounts and exemptions and that she had requested the additional line ‘if you don’t, you may be subject to a penalty’.

The Head of Service, Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit gave the following answers in response to questions asked:

• 2.10 detailed £44,927 of increased revenue. This was the total figure of money owed from single person discount anomalies and would be recovered over a period of time in line with usual Council Tax collection processes.
• The £70 fixed penalty was set by legislation and could not be amended.
• The 20 civil penalties mentioned in 2.10 were applied for two reasons. Either residents did not declare that their situation in relation to Single Person Discount had changed within a timely manner or the information provided was false to begin with.  
• The NFI matches were due to be completed by the end of December 2022.

Councillor Hurst proposed and Councillor Baker seconded. 

After being put to a vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED To consider the report and comment as necessary.