Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer).

The purpose of this report is to present the work carried out during the past year to minimise the risk of fraud, bribery and corruption occurring in the Council. This supports the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (England) 2011, which state that the Council must have measures in place “to enable the prevention and detection of inaccuracies and fraud.” In this context, we have taken fraud also to refer to cases of bribery and corruption.

The Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: John Pearsall on 0161 474 4033 or email: john.pearsall@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive (and Section 151 Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which presented details of the work carried out during the past year to minimise the risk of fraud, bribery and corruption occurring in the Council. This supports the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (England) 2011, which state that the Council must have measures in place “to enable the prevention and detection of inaccuracies and fraud.” In this context, we have taken fraud also to refer to cases of bribery and corruption.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members raised the issue of the counterfraud service and where the staff in this team had moved from and whether the team remained fully staffed.  In response, Members were advised on the position relating to counterfraud and how it was staffed.  The posts that were currently being advertised would be responsible for carrying out some counterfraud work.  The Audit team bought in the services of a dedicated IT auditor.  It was difficult to estimate how much work would need to be carried out in the counterfraud sector and so the challenge was to ensure that resources were in the right place at the right time.  The audit team had been involved in seven different investigations in the past year and there had been the flexibility within the team to deal with these.

·         Members raised the issue of communicating to residents and Member when fraudulent activities had been detected.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.