Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Customer Services reviewing the Council’s Housing and Council Tax Benefits Anti-Fraud Strategy and Prosecution Policy.

Noted the contents of the report and approved the content of a revised and enhanced Benefit Fraud Strategy and Policy for the prosecution and sanction of those persons found to have been committing benefit fraud. Authorised staff within the Fraud Team to undertake investigations in fraud affecting Local Taxation and Housing Services and other services and to report to the relevant Head of Service on the outcomes, findings and recommendations arising from these investigations.

By way of a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was invited to consider the content of a revised and enhanced Benefit Fraud Strategy and Policy for the prosecution and sanction of those persons found to have been committing benefit fraud.

Having considered the information contained in the report, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the contents of the report be noted;

  (b)  that the revised Benefit Fraud Strategy set out in Appendix A to the report now submitted be approved;

  (c)  that the revised Benefit Fraud Prosecution Policy set out in Appendix B to the report now submitted be approved; and

  (d)  that staff within the Fraud Team be authorised to undertake investigations in fraud affecting Local Taxation and Housing Services and other services and to report to the relevant Head of Service on the outcomes, findings and recommendations arising from these investigations.

To consider a report by the Head of Customer Services detailing the outcome of a review of the existing Housing and Council Tax Benefit Fraud Strategy and Prosecution Policy.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing a review of the Benefit Fraud Strategy and Benefits Prosecution Policy.

In noting the increasing levels of fraud detection activity and the levels of sanction and prosecution undertaken by the Council, including those within the Local Taxation and Housing Departments, attention was drawn to the changes proposed to the Strategy and the Prosecution Policy.

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  that the revised Benefit Fraud Strategy set out in Annex A to the report now submitted be approved;

(c)  that the revised Benefit Fraud Prosecution Policy set out in Annex B to the report now submitted be approved; and

(d)  that the Cabinet be recommended to amend the delegated functions to allow the Fraud Team  to undertake investigations in fraud affecting Local Taxation and Housing Services and all other District Council services and to report to the relevant Department on the outcomes, findings and recommendations arising from these investigations.