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Issue - meetings

SAFS PROGRESS UPDATE ON 2023-2024 ANTI-FRAUD PLAN

 

 

Meeting: 13/12/2023 - Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Item 14)

14 SAFS PROGRESS UPDATE ON 2023-2024 ANTI-FRAUD PLAN pdf icon PDF 267 KB

REPORT OF THE SHARED ANTI-FRAUD SERVICE

 

This report provides details of the work undertaken to protect the Council against the threat of fraud and the Council’s 2023/24 Anti-Fraud plan.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the work of the Council and the Shared Anti-Fraud Service in delivering the 2023/24 Anti-Fraud Plan.

Minutes:

Audio recording 3 minutes 40 seconds

 

The Head of Service, Shared Anti-Fraud Service, presented the ‘SAFS Progress Update on 2023-24 Anti-Fraud Plan’, and highlighted that:

 

·       The 2023-24 Anti-Fraud report was approved by this Committee in March 2023.

·       The report progress and KPIs were shown in appendix B, with a more detailed report on page 29 covering the period 1 April to 31 October 2023.

·       KPI 2a highlighted that 36% of allocated fraud days had been completed this has improved in quarter 3 (Q3).

·       A persistent error with the new case management system had been identified and was being addressed, which had affected the reporting of time spent on cases.

·       Work had been completed in accordance with the service plan and since Q3 the agreed number of days had occurred.

·       The Council took part in the International Fraud Awareness week in November 2023.

·       Work was ongoing with HR regarding the I-learning training with changes expected next year.

·       A table highlighting all the referrals received from staff and members of the public to SAFS and the categories of these fraud allegations was shown on page 15 of the report.

·       The estimated value of live fraud cases was £318K as highlight in section 15 of the report.

·       The outcome of the recent grant fraud investigation resulted in a two year suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work, with the matter being referred to the proceeds of crime team to investigate the recovery of any funds.

·       The Fraud Advisory Panel reported in April about the Lost Homes Lost Hope risk from social housing which highlighted the importance of working closely with housing partners to prevent fraud.

·       Work was ongoing with other agencies to ensure that SAFS was informed of any new fraud initiatives or threats.

·       The County Council undertook an investigation of the Council Tax Framework and from a sample of 3500 cases selected for review, they found that 625 discounts could be removed which would generate an extra £264K of Council Tax funding.

·       Work was ongoing with the National Fraud Initiative and the use of data and data analytics to identify and prevent fraud.

·       NHDC had a lower number of data matches compared to other districts and these data matches had identified fraudulent claims that had generated a saving of £69K.

·       SAFS were working with the Hertfordshire Fraud Hub to ensure that data was submitted on a regular basis, enabling the early identification of fraud.

·       Polygamous workers were highlighted as a new risk, this was the result of remote working where employees worked at more than one authority.

·       Specific reports regarding grant processes and recruitment risks had been produced.

 

The following Members asked questions:

 

·       Councillor Terry Hone

·       Councillor Tom Plater

·       Independent Person John Cannon

 

In response to questions the Head of Service stated that:

 

·       The case management system had been incorrectly recording time spent working on NHDC accounts and the reporting systems showed a shortfall. This meant that the 285 recorded days would not be met, however assurances could be given that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14