Agenda item

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager introduced the report which set out the Council’s Anti-Fraud Plan for 2023/24. He reminded Members that the Council was one of the founding Members of the shared service which now comprised of seven other Local Authorities across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, as well as several social housing providers across the region.

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that the Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS) provided a variety of functions for the Council, which included the development of policies and process to prevent fraud, fraud awareness training and using data and data analytics to identify fraud.

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that the Council had a history of effective fraud awareness, prevention and investigation. He said that the Anti-Fraud Plan for 2023/24 was very similar to plans in previous years but highlighted some key areas for particular focus. He said that the key message for 2023/24 was ‘prevention’, with Fraud Awareness Training open to all Members, particularly to those newly elected in May.  

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that Key Performance Indicators had been agreed with senior officers to deliver value for money. He detailed a new way of SAFS working for all partners, and the creation of specialist teams to build upon expertise and allow for resilience and capacity. He also detailed a new bespoke project between SAFS and the Shared Procurement Service.

The Chairman referred to page 47 of the report and asked if the financial modelling which showed that the service would be sustainable for at least the next three years was a typical amount of time. He asked if this was reviewed annually.

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that this was a short to mid-term review and appropriate for a shared service.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property said that finances were discussed at each SAFS board meeting, with reserves monitored to cover the unexpected.

Councillor Curtis asked what impact Welwyn Hatfield Council joining SAFS would have on staff.

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that SAFS staff numbers had increased from the teens to twenty-two officers, with two officers allocated to Welwyn Hatfield Council. He said that a further post would be filled in June 2023, with all staff able to flex across all partners. 

Councillor Curtis said that this was very reassuring and asked how many Housing Associations were in the partnership, and how much of SAFS time did they take up.

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that there were four local Housing Associations in the partnership, each of which had a contract of approximately 10 days. He said that they took up little resources compared to Local Authorities, added to the experience of the SAFS team, and that investigations freed up housing stock for bidding by Local Authority housing applicants.  

The Chairman referred to page 48 of the report and asked if the 285 days of counter fraud work which the Council had access to was adequate with SAFS revised structure.

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that the global view, minus annual leave, holidays and training left approximately 250/260 working days. He said that this not based on one SAFS officer but the whole of the service. He said that partners would not see a reduction in service.

The Chairman asked if Fraud Awareness training was mandatory at the Council.

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said such training was mandatory at East Herts, which was delivered online. He said that there was enhanced training for officers in areas which required an uplift. The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that as much as possible training was delivered face to face, and that SAFS were in discussion with Democratic Services regarding training for all Members after the election.

The Chairman asked for further detail on the use of SAFS using data analytics with the Councils Benefit Service.  

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service Manager said that data analytics highlighted irregularities, with East Herts a member of the Herts Fraud Hub which gave localised and targeted data. He said that the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) delivered data matching to identify and prevent fraud against the public sector.

The Chairman asked for confirmation of the costs for the Fraud Hub. 

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property said that the fee for the NFI (as required by the Cabinet Office) was £4,080 and included the Herts Fraud Hub.

It was moved by Councillor Fernando and seconded by Councillor Curtis that the recommendation as detailed, be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Anti-Fraud Plan for 2023/24 be reviewed and approved.