Agenda item

To present to the Audit Committee an updated Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy.

The Committee had before it a report of the Assistant Director (Finance & IT) (report A.2) which presented it with an updated Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy.

It was reported that the Council’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy had last been updated in April 2021 and it remained subject to an annual review process which had recently been completed. The amended Strategy was set out in Appendix A to the report.

Members were informed that the Strategy continued to be based on CIPFA’s code of practice on managing the risk of fraud and corruption. As its foundation, the Strategy set out the Council’s commitments along with the following key areas:-

·      Purpose, Commitment and Procedure

·      Legislation and General Governance

·      Definitions 

·      Standards, Expectations and Commitment

·      Roles and Responsibilities

·      Prevention

·      Detection and Investigation

·      Resources Invested in Counter Fraud and Corruption

Members were further informed that the intention was to continue to include the scope for prosecutions within the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy itself and include the relevant framework against which prosecutions would be considered. Those changes had been included within the ‘Detection and Investigation’ section of the strategy.

It was reported that the Strategy would continue to be subject to an annual review process including progress against identified actions and it had therefore been included on the ongoing work programme of the Committee. It was acknowledged that through its application, the Strategy would evolve to reflect the various strands of work being developed within the Council, which would be included in future updates presented to the Committee.

The Committee was advised that amendments to the Strategy reflected the response to the COVID 19 pandemic where fraud risks had unfortunately increased during such difficult times. Work remained on-going in terms of lessons learnt from the last 24 months and further changes to the Strategy were likely to be required, especially as relevant regulatory bodies were expected to publish in the coming months anti-fraud and corruption guidance following the COVID 19 pandemic.  Subject to the scale and timing of potential changes, a revised Strategy would be presented to the Committee during the year or would form part of the annual review early in 2023.

Members were aware that updates against the Council’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy Action Plan were also included within Appendix A.

In considering this matter, the Members of the Committee commented on how well worded the draft revised Strategy was and how easy to read it was.  In relation to the reference in the draft Strategy to sanctions against Contractors who commit fraud that this should also cover fraud they commit against service users (and not just against the Council or public funds more generally).  Another proposal was to provide a telephone number in the section of the report headed ‘Helpline or Employees’ (in addition to the email address provided).  Members also proposed that the section of the Strategy concerning the detection and investigation of fraud should recognise the role Councillors can and should play to prevent and detect fraud and corruption (alongside the other groups referred to there).

A question was also asked about the training for staff in respect of investigation of fraud and corruption. 

After discussion it was:-

RESOLVED that the amended Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to item A.2 of the Report of the Assistant Director (Finance & IT), be approved subject to amendments to address the following:

·         Roles and Responsibilities (Page 7) - sanctions against Contractors who commit fraud should also cover fraud they commit against service users (and not just against the Council or public funds more generally). 

·         Roles and Responsibilities (Page 7) - ‘Helpline or Employees’ - a telephone number be provided to enable anonymous reporting (in addition to the email address provided). 

·         Detection and Investigation (Page 10) - recognise the role Councillors can and should play to prevent and detect fraud and corruption (alongside the other groups referred to there).