Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document
Meeting of the Executive held on 02/12/2003
Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy
Summary & Purpose
The purpose of this report is to present a revised Strategy in relation to Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption and the accompanying Corporate Prosecution Policy for the approval of the Executive and adoption by the Council, in accordance with best practice on governance arrangements provided by the CIPFA/SOLACE framework.
Quality of Life Implications
Natural
Resource Use
Pollution
Prevention and Control
Biodiversity
and Nature
Local
Environment
Social
Inclusion
Safe, Healthy
and Active
Communities
Local
Economy
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Positive
Positive
The purpose of the report is to ensure that the Council has communicated its governance process in relation to fraud and corruption to all stakeholders. The strategy and policy will support the actions that will be taken on fraud and corruption in Waverley.
E-Government implications
:
The Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption strategy and the Prosecution Policy will be published on the authority’s website as well as the necessary supporting documents to this strategy.
Resource and legal implications
:
The resource implications that will be incurred are:-
·
The publication and circulation of the Strategy
·
Staff resource to implement a Corporate Whistleblowing Policy in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, including mechanisms to facilitate the process i.e. the introduction of a Corporate Fraud Telephone and Internet links. This can be met from existing budgets.
·
Staff training costs re-cascaded throughout Waverley, funded from existing training budgets.
However, by adopting this strategy it will provide a preventative measure to mitigate the risk of fraud and corruption occurring and enhance internal control framework of Waverley.
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Introduction and Background
1. An Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy was implemented by Waverley in 1997, in accordance with suggested recommendations made in the Audit Commission publications “Protecting the Public Purse” in 1993 and “Called to Account” in 1996. These publications highlighted the need for organisations not just to implement a formal strategy, but to review and enhance the strategy to meet the changes in the corporate governance processes in the organisation.
2. The Strategy is underpinned by a variety of other documents, such as member and officer codes of conduct and the Public Interest Disclosure at Work (Whistleblowing) Policy. These also require regular review in order to ensure that they remain up-to-date. The Council has recently introduced the members’ Code of Conduct, and is awaiting the national model code of officer conduct. The Public Interest Disclosure at Work (Whistleblowing) Policy may need revision as it is currently aimed at staff but does not lend itself to use by the public.
Conclusion
3. In conclusion, the revision of the strategy enforces Waverley’s commitment to prevent and detect fraud and corruption.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Executive approves:
1. the revised Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy and the introduction of a Corporate Prosecution Policy contained at Annexe 1 to the report; and
2. the publication and training requirements to implement the strategy, including the production of any other procedures and processes to support and enhance the strategy and its effectiveness.
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Background Papers
(DoF)
There are no background papers (as defined by Section 100D(5) of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to this report.
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CONTACT OFFICER:
Name: Mark Hill
Telephone:
01483 523240
E-mail:
mhill.@waverley.gov.uk
Name: Gail Beaton Telephone:
01483-523260…
E-mail:
gbeaton@waverley.gov.uk