Issue - meetings

This item is to approve the amendments to the strategy and endorse the Council’s new Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy

Council considered a report that sought approval to amendments to the Council’s Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy.

Council resolved to:

1.    Approve and endorse the changes to the Council’s Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy; and

2. Approve the update of the Council’s Constitution to reflect the revised strategy.

The Committee is asked to consider the amendments to the Counter Fraud, Bribery & Corruption Strategy and make a recommendation to Council.

The Committee considered a report from the Internal Audit Manager that sought a recommendation to Council to amend the Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy.

The Committee was advised that they were required to review the Counter Fraud Bribery and Corruption Strategy annually and make any recommendations for changes to Council. The Council’s Constitution would then be updated accordingly.

The Committee were advised that it was important that the Council had a defined robust strategy in place to identify the potential risks and to put in place measures, where possible, to mitigate any likelihood of fraud, bribery or corruption taking place. The Internal Audit Manager stated that during economically challenging times the instances of fraud or corruption were perceived to be on the increase. The Council could be at risk of financial losses, reputational damage and money being taken away from those services that are needed to support our residents if there were not a strategy in place.

The Committee asked that the level of resource within the Audit Team be looked at to ensure that they were able to put in place sufficient measures to identify and monitor areas of potential fraud, bribery or corruption. 

The Committee resolved to recommend to Council that they:

1.    Approve and endorse the changes to the Council’s Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy; and

2.    Approve the update of the Council’s Constitution to reflect the revised strategy.

To consider endorsing the Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy and recommend to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee any changes proposed to the Strategy.

The Internal Audit Manager presented a report on the Council’s Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy and outlined proposed changes to the Strategy so that it remained relevant and current.  The Strategy was last reviewed by the Audit Committee in July 2021.  A tracked changed document and a final version of the Strategy were attached to the report which set out the reasons for the proposed changes.

The Committee noted that during economically challenging times fraud and corruption occurrences were perceived to be on the increase.  An open and honest culture, adequate preventive measures, collaborative arrangements and practices, systems for detection and investigation and an understanding and awareness of fraud, bribery and corruption, and whistleblowing procedures were all key elements of the Council’s strategy to prevent, detect and manage fraud.

The Strategy formed part of the Council’s constitution, was in line with best practice, and underpinned the Council's commitment to dealing effectively with all forms of bribery, fraud, and corruption.  The Committee was required to review the Counter Fraud Bribery and Corruption Strategy annually and make any recommendations for change to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.  Counter fraud measures, in particular, had been increased and these were set out in the revised Strategy.

The Committee resolved

1.       to endorse the Council’s Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy, and

2.       to approve the recommended changes to the Strategy and to submit these to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.