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Issue - meetings

Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Collaboration Agreement

 

 

Meeting: 22/01/2025 - Council (Item 68)

68 Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Collaboration Agreement pdf icon PDF 534 KB

Purpose

To seek approval to the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough and Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud and West Oxfordshire District Councils.

 

Recommendation

That Council resolves to:

1.    Approve the Council entering into the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to seek approval of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU) Partnership Collaboration Agreement between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough Councils and Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud and West Oxfordshire District Councils.

 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation, Councillor Mike Evemy, proposed the approval of the collaboration agreement and explained how the partnership, which had been in place for seven years with six councils, had been crucial in preventing fraud and corruption, especially during the distribution of COVID business grants. The service was hosted by Cotswold District Council, and the proposal suggested continuing the partnership for another 10 years, with an option to extend for three more years. The report also highlighted that Cotswold would remain the host authority, with the option to give 18 months' notice if the responsibility was transferred. The Council was asked to approve the agreement.

 

Council discussed the report and councillors made the following points:

  • The CFEU was seen a being a highly accountable and competent unit which reported to the Audit and Governance Committee.
  • The service was seen as crucial for upholding trust, tackling fraud, and protecting public resources.
  • The operational and economic efficiencies achieved by the partnership would be difficult for the partner councils to achieve individually.
  • Cotswold District Council (CDC), as the host council, was commended for leading the way in this area.
  • Given the financial challenges faced by the Council, there was also interest in exploring potential revenue generation opportunities through the service. There was a desire to discuss expanding the service to support other local authorities or broaden its scope.
  • The two main areas of fraud were identified as being claiming single-person discounts for social housing and illegal subletting. The amounts involved were not seen as significant and it was unclear whether the recovered funds would benefit the Council or go to other bodies like government departments or housing associations. The emphasis was placed on using publicity to deter fraud.
  • Officers in the ERS service were commended for working collaboratively with the CFEU to bring successful prosecutions against fly-tippers, which generated revenue and discouraged others from engaging in the same behaviour.

 

The recommendation in the report was proposed by Councillor Evemy, seconded by Councillor Nigel Robbins, put to the vote and agreed by Council.

Councillor Daryl Corps did not vote.

Meeting: 09/01/2025 - Cabinet (Item 48)

48 Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Collaboration Agreement pdf icon PDF 552 KB

Purpose

To seek approval to the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough and Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud and West Oxfordshire District Councils.

 

Recommendation

That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Recommend to Council to approve entering into the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement (The revised agreement is for 10 years with an option to extend for up 3 years at a time.  There is no limit on the number of times the agreement can be extended).

2.    Note that there is an option for Cotswold District Council to cease acting as host on 31 March in any year of the term by giving the other Councils 18 months’ notice.

3.    Note that any Council can leave the agreement on the service of 12 months’ notice to expire on the 31 March.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the item was to seek approval of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough and Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud and West Oxfordshire District Councils.

 

The Deputy Leader and Member for Finance and Transformation introduced the item.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Evemy, Deputy Leader and Member for Finance and Transformation, and seconded by Councillor Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

  1. RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL to approve entering into the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement (The revised agreement is for 10 years with an option to extend for up 3 years at a time. There is no limit on the number of times the agreement can be extended).
  2. NOTE that there is an option for Cotswold District Council to cease acting as host on 31 March in any year of the term by giving the other Councils 18 months’ notice.
  3. NOTE that any Council can leave the agreement on the service of 12 months’ notice to expire on the 31 March

 

Voting Record 7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention

 

Minutes:

The purpose of the item was to seek approval of the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough and Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud and West Oxfordshire District Councils.

 

The Deputy Leader and Member for Finance and Transformation introduced the item and introduced the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, a shared service hosted by Cotswold District Council which provided excellent and cost-effective support to both Cotswold District Council and partner councils and a few additional organisations. The partnership, established in 2017, focused on mitigating fraud risks, reducing criminal activity, and preventing financial losses for member councils and other organisations.

 

Councillor Evemy emphasised the unit's value, citing the team’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic in designing fraud-minimization systems for business grants, which saved significant sums. The Council’s annual cost for the service was about £100,000, which was justified by the team’s contributions to fraud prevention and assistance across partner councils.

 

Thanks were expressed to the CFEU for their continued great work.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Evemy, Deputy Leader and Member for Finance and Transformation, and seconded by Councillor Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

  1. Recommend to Council to approve entering into the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit Partnership Collaboration Agreement (The revised agreement is for 10 years with an option to extend for up 3 years at a time. There is no limit on the number of times the agreement can be extended).
  2. NOTE that there is an option for Cotswold District Council to cease acting as host on 31 March in any year of the term by giving the other Councils 18 months’ notice.
  3. NOTE that any Council can leave the agreement on the service of 12 months’ notice to expire on the 31 March

 

Voting Record  7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention

 

 

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