The report provided Members with details of the work of the Fraud Investigation team for the period November 2014 through to December 2014.  The number of completed investigations and the subsequent sanctions applied to offenders had no relation to the number of investigations opened during the same period.

81 referrals of potential fraud were reported between November 2014 and December 2014. All of the referrals were for suspected Housing Benefit (HB) and/or Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) fraud.

11 cases were successfully investigated during this period, all for benefit fraud. The Fraud Investigation team applied sanctions to all 11 cases.

The report also provided details of the Borough’s performance in detecting benefit fraud and corporate fraud and how it compared with other Local Authorities within its comparator group.

With the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) taking over benefit fraud there would be an opportunity to look at potential areas of corporate fraud.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Clark and SECONDED by Cllr Parker to receive the recommendation in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1. Members noted the fraud statistics contained within the report.

2. Approval was given for officers to undertake further analysis into the viability of expanding the role of the existing counter fraud team to include areas of potential corporate frauds not currently investigated.