Issue - meetings

This report details counter fraud work carried out by Internal Audit during 2024/25 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. 

Two formal whistleblowing referrals were received and investigated during 2024/25.

The BCP Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy has been revised to incorporate the new corporate offence introduced by the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Under this legislation, organisations may face prosecution if a fraud is committed by an employee, agent, or subsidiary with the intent to benefit the organisation, and the organisation has failed to implement reasonable fraud prevention.

NOTE: In relation to this item of business, the Committee is asked to consider the following resolution in relation to any discussion on the exempt appendix A to the report:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information.”