The report provides Members with details of the work of the Fraud Investigation team for the period June 2014 through to August 2014. The number of completed investigations and the subsequent sanctions applied to offenders bears no relation to the number of investigations opened during the same period.

215 referrals of potential fraud were reported between June 2014 and August 2014.  With the exception of 1 potential housing tenancy fraud, 214 of the referrals were for suspected Housing Benefit (HB) and/or Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) fraud.

7 cases were successfully investigated during this period, all for benefit fraud. The Fraud Investigation team applied sanctions to all 7 cases, 2 of which were successful prosecutions.

Cllr Quirk requested that Appendix A is updated to show the totals for each column and is circulated to the Committee and remains part of future Fraud Statistic Report presented to this Committee.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Clark and SECONDED by Cllr Mrs Squirrell to receive the recommendation set out in the report.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

That Members note the contents of this report.