Issue - meetings

To review the Council’s counter fraud work.

The Temporary Customer Services Operational Manager and the Internal Audit Manager presented the report on business rates - avoidance and evasion. They explained that due to resource challenges they were only able to investigate a limited number of cases. They highlighted the partnership with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to procure a counter fraud resource, which supported and supplemented the existing investigatory resource at Spelthorne focussing on Housing and Business rates, and had resulted in a positive outcome for the Council in terms of the amount of monies we had been able to recover.

The Chairman commended the fraud partnership as a good initiative which the Council should take opportunities to make greater use of.

Resolved to note the report on business rates.