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Issue - meetings

SAFS PROGRESS REPORT 2026/27

 

 

Meeting: 09/09/2026 - Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Item 23)

23 SAFS PROGRESS REPORT 2026/27 pdf icon PDF 359 KB

REPORT OF THE SHARED ANTI-FRAUD SERVICE (SAFS)

 

To review the progress and delivery of the Anti-Fraud plan 2026/27.

Decision:

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

 

REASON FOR DECISION: This progress report provides details of the work undertaken by the Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS) and Council Officers to protect the Council against the threat of fraud and the delivery of the Council’s Anti-Fraud Action Plan for 2026/27.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 34 minutes 44 seconds

 

The Counter-Fraud Manager presented the report entitled ‘SAFS Progress Report 2026/27’ and advised that:

 

·             Progress made against the delivery of the Anti-Fraud Action Plan 2026/27 from April to June 2026 was detailed in the report.

·             All Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were on target, and explanations on how the Action Plan related to fraud nationally, SAFs resources, and agreed KPIs were provided.

·             Anti-Fraud activity including alerts, emerging trends and an updated delivery of the training plan was described in the report.

·             23 fraud allegation cases had been received, with 20 of those still live and 3 closed, which had resulted in £18K of identified fraud and £10K of future savings.

·             Council Tax compliance reviews had identified another £20K of fraud.

·             11 tenancy fraud cases relating to social housing providers were live.

·             SAFS would suspend the Fraud Hub to ensure that the Council complied with the National Fraud Initiative upload.

 

The following Members asked questions:

 

·             Independent Member John Cannon

·             Councillor Paul Ward

 

In response to questions, the advised that:

 

·             Estimates for fraud costs were based on empirical measurements and the costings from the National Fraud Initiative and were used to allocate resources into different areas.

·             Estimates were not necessarily projected losses.

·             Use of AI within their work was being investigated, such as for a case management system.

·             AI was used for lower-level fraud activities such as counterfeit document creation for bank statements and proof of residence, and they were working to detect these when received.

 

In response to questions, the Head of Assurance Services (HCC) & Client Audit Manager (NHDC) advised that AI was also used by the public to make fraud complaints, which created extra work for officers in organisations like SAFS due to their length and varying content.

 

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis proposed and Councillor Paul Ward 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.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: This progress report provides details of the work undertaken by the Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS) and Council Officers to protect the Council against the threat of fraud and the delivery of the Council’s Anti-Fraud Action Plan for 2026/27.