Agenda item

RESOLVED to note the content of the report

9.1  Michael Sheffield introduced the Annual Fraud and Irregularity report for 2019/20. The Committee was provided with status reports and analysis of reported fraud and irregularity within the London Borough of Hackney.

9.2  Michael Sheffield highlighted the following to the Committee:

-  Estimated savings arising from enquiries was £5,698,149 compared to 4.6m in the previous year  

-  A doubling in the blue badge financial output

-  In relation to ‘No recourse to Public Funding, there was an investigation into the CYTS scheme

-  A 20 % increase in performance outcomes IN RDF work during the year

-  Tenancy fraud investigations showed the biggest return and was back on track

-  Significant returns from investigations arising from the National Fraud Initiative Data Match Exercise/ Report related to achievements for the year and showed a significant increase in outcomes

-  In relation to RIPA activity there had not been any investigations. This remained as an option if needed.

-  The inspection at the end of the year had been passed

-  The shift to working from home had impacted on investigations.  Desk based investigations were being carried out.

-  70 parking investigations

-  240 tenancy investigations

-  Considerable support had been given to the Business rates team.

-  Some audit officers had been redeployed to other functions within the council, including the Borough’s Emergency Contact Centres

-  There had been disruption to some investigations as a result of Covid 19, with face to face engagement not possible unless essential

-  There had been changes to legislation that impact on the work of Audit.

-  No evictions were taking place for housing at present

-  Levels of referrals of work into the team had decreased significantly in areas such as Blue Badge and tenancy fraud while referral in other areas had held up

-  For the first two months of last year outcomes from parking was 15 compared to 6 with tenancy fraud reduced to 3 in first two months of this year.

-  There was a renewed focus on housing applications with a higher number of outcomes

9.3  The Chair thanked officer for the flexible response that had been made to change risk and suggested a re-profile of targets. He asked for a further report on risk areas such as business grants and track and trace.

    Action: Ian Williams/Michael Sheffield  

9.4  Councillor Spence asked about numbers of temporary fraud investigations and Right to Buy applications. Ian Williams told the Committee that with the increase in house prices, right to buy applications had reduced and he agreed to circulate figures on this reduction.

  Action:  Ian Williams

9.5  Councillor Patrick asked for an update on work being carried out on pensions and fraud. Ian Williams reported to the Committee on this, referring to the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) section of the report. He said that there were conditions under which pensions are paid. The NFI match pensions payments to other data bases, for instance, to check if any payments were being made by other local authorities. 

RESOLVED to note the content of the report