Issue - meetings

This report details counter fraud work carried out by Internal Audit to provide assurance on the Council’s response to combating fraud and corruption. 

Internal Audit have investigated all allegations of suspected fraud or financial irregularity in a proportionate manner. 

Six formal whistleblowing referrals for the Council were received and investigated by Internal Audit during 2022/23.

[NOTE: Should the Committee wish to discuss the detail within the Confidential Appendix of this report, the meeting will be required to move into Confidential (Exempt) Session]

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report detailed counter fraud work carried out by Internal Audit to provide assurance on the Council’s response to combating fraud and corruption. Internal Audit had investigated all allegations of suspected fraud or financial irregularity in a proportionate manner and it was confirmed that this included allegations of fraud from internal and external sources. Details of ‘whistleblowing’ referrals during the period were also listed.

It was reported that six formal whistleblowing referrals for the Council had been received and investigated by Internal Audit during 2022/23 and the particular fraud area involved and the outcome and recommendation in each case was set out.

In response to a question relating to investigation of allegations concerning the rental of office space by ‘FuturePlaces’, it was noted that this subject was likely to be within the scope of the next annual report to the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee notes

a)     the counter fraud work and investigations carried out by Internal Audit during 2022/23; 

b)     the whistleblowing referrals received during 2022/23. 

Voting: Unanimous