Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SHARED ANTI-FRAUD SERVICE (SAFS)

To review the progress and delivery of the Anti-Fraud plan 2024-25.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the progress by officers and the Shared Anti-Fraud Service to deliver the Anti-Fraud Plan for the Council.

Audio Recording – 4 minutes 40 seconds

The Counter Fraud Manager presented the report entitled ‘SAFS Anti-Fraud Plan Progress Update 2024-25’ and highlighted that:

·       The report showed that the performance at the end of December 2024 was in line with the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) laid out in the annual plan.

·       The KPIs highlighted in green were complete and those in yellow were expected to be met but were not yet complete.

·       So far this year there were 87 allegations of fraud of which 33 were live investigations.

·       In 5 cases SAFS have identified £34k lost, a further £21k prevented from loss and £20k recovered.

·       5 civil penalties had been being issued, of which 2 were cases of providing false allegations.

·       SAFS were working together with the National Fraud Team as part of the Fraud Hub.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Sam Collins

·       Councillor Paul Ward

·       Independent Person John Cannon

In response to questions, the Counter Fraud Manager advised that:

·       Two of the KPIs in appendix B could not be monitored, these were left in the report due to being part of the plan, these KPIs were being met but there was no data available to show this in the report.

·       It was hard to predict what would happen in terms of fraud cases but at the moment it was expected there would be fewer instances than previous years. The final data would be presented in the end of year report.

·       Data on trends year on year was not available, but it would be circulated to the appropriate Officers when available.

·       The anti-fraud week was an international media campaign. SAFS participate in the campaign to promote anti-fraud services throughout Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Councillor Stewart Willoughby proposed and Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the progress by officers and the Shared Anti-Fraud Service to deliver the Anti-Fraud Plan for the Council.