Issue - meetings

Ms. Z. Thomas presented the report and in doing so informed Members that the report reflected the work undertaken in relation to the audit of the 2011/2012 accounts and general information on the national issues that may impact on the Council.  Members were informed that the key areas where fraud was detected:

§         Housing benefits and council tax benefits

§         False claims for student and single person council tax discounts

§         Procurement fraud

The Audit Commission had developed a single person discount comparator tool that allowed local authorities to compare their levels of council tax single person discount with their predicted levels, based on a national average. 

The Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Resources responded to Members’ questions with regard to fraud monitoring and whether the Key Considerations as detailed in the report had been addressed by officers.  Members were informed that the fraud prevention checklist was being developed and that the relevant Key Considerations would be picked up by officers and included in the Internal Audit Recommendation Tracker and monitored quarterly.  Bromsgrove District Council held no housing stock so no response was required to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consultation exercise.

RESOLVED that the Audit Commission Progress 2011/2012 be noted.