| 604 | RECORD OF THE FOLLOWING MEETING: |
| | | The record of the meeting held on 27 September 2006 was signed by the Chairman as correct. |
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| 605 | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE |
| | | An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jarrett. |
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| 606 | URGENT MATTERS |
| | | The Chairman announced that the meeting scheduled for 26 April 2007 would need to be cancelled and the business moved to the June meeting as the meeting occurred during the run up to the election. |
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| 607 | OUTCOMES OF HOUSING BENEFIT COUNTER FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS |
| | Discussion: |
| | | The Audit Services Manager gave a brief introduction to the report on the outcomes of housing benefit counter fraud investigations during the period September 2006 to January 2007 and responded to Members' questions.
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| In view of the recent successful prosecutions, which had lead to custodial sentences Members felt that it may be helpful for another article to be placed in Medway Matters, advising the public of this fact. This could also encourage members of the public to inform on people who were claiming benefits fraudulently as they would realise the Council takes the matter seriously.
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| The Audit Services Manager was also asked to report back to this Committee having researched what happens in other authorities about publicising housing benefit prosecutions and whether naming and shaming individuals worked and was legally sound. |
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| | > Housing and council tax benefit investigations (pdf file 25.4kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | (a) | | Members noted the progress in investigating benefit fraud in accordance with the approved sanction policy. |
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| | (b) | | The Audit Services Manager was requested to publish a further article in Medway Matters alerting the public to the recent successful prosecutions. |
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| | (c) | | The Audit Services Manager to report back to this Committee on the legal position and potential worth of publicising fraud cases more widely. |
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| 608 | INTERNAL AUDIT WORK PROGRAMME 2006/2007 |
| | Discussion: |
| | | The Audit Services Manager introduced the internal audit work programme for 2006/2007 and responded to Members' questions. |
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| | > Internal Audit Work Programme 2006-2007 (pdf file 41.4kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | | Members noted the progress to date and that the key assurance work identified will be completed. |
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| 609 | EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC |
| | | The Committee agreed to ask the press and public to leave the meeting because the following items contained commercially sensitive information under paragraphs 5 and 7 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. |
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| | > Exclusion of the press and public (pdf file 12.3kb) |
| 610 | OUTCOMES OF AUDIT ACTIVITY |
| | Discussion: |
| | | The Audit Services Manager gave a brief introduction to a report setting out the outcomes of internal audit activity completed since the last meeting and responded to Members' questions.
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| Members requested to see regular reports of this type of activity in particular the areas where follow up work was being undertaken within six months. |
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| | > Outcomes of Audit Activity (pdf file 14.0kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | | The internal audit work was noted. |
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| 611 | IRREGULARITY REPORT |
| | Discussion: |
| | | Members were advised by the Audit Services Manager of the outcome of a recent investigation. |
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| | > Irregularity Report (pdf file 9.8kb) |
| | Decision: |
| | (a) | | Members noted the irregularity investigation and proposed actions; |
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| | (b) | | The Audit Services Manager was requested to discuss this case with the Community Services Directorate Management Team with a view to them speaking to their external partner about the outcome. |
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