Decision details

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Agree to the implementation of the following policies attached in Appendix A:

·         Fraud Response Plan

·         Anti-Bribery Policy

·         Anti-Money Laundering Policy

·         Surveillance & RIPA Policy

2.  Agree that the policies in Appendix A are reviewed on a 3-year cycle by Cabinet unless there are formal legislative changes necessitating a review at an earlier stage, where the Corporate Director of Finance, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Finance, may authorise the changes required.

3.  Authorises the Cabinet Member for Finance to sign-off the yearly review of the Surveillance & RIPA Policy in line with the Investigatory Powers and Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) requirements.

4.  Agree to retire the Corporate Prosecution & Sanctions Policy and the Internal Investigations Protocol for the reasons set out in the report.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet considered and agreed updated counter fraud and related investigative policies, following a review.

The Leader of the Council, in Councillor Goddard’s absence, presented the report on counter fraud and corporate investigative policies. The Leader detailed the suite of policies that would guide the investigation of fraud, money laundering, and other criminal activities. These policies stood independently and offered transparency to the public on the Council’s investigative processes, providing a framework for both the Council and its officers. The Leader highlighted the Counter Fraud team’s recent successes in recovering substantial sums of money and assets, including addressing fraud in homelessness services where landlords had claimed for unoccupied temporary accommodations. Over 100 properties were recovered from council tenants who had been unlawfully subletting. The team’s efforts had been nationally recognised. The Leader of the Council gave particular emphasis on the policy on the use of CCTV and the necessary considerations for its deployment as an investigative tool.

Alternative options considered and rejected

An alternative would be for the Council not to update its policies; however, this would have had a negative impact as the Council would not be following best practice or legislative requirements.