Decision details

·       Approved the revised Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy attached in Appendix One of the report.

·       Agreed the case for exempt information for the Appendices 2, 3 and 4, to be treated in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing that information.  

·       Noted the following fraud prevention policies in place for Somerset Council and that these are due for review by April2025:?  

-       Anti-Bribery Policy  

-       Anti-Tax Evasion Policy  

-       Anti Money Laundering Policy;  

·       Acknowledged the new provision in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act of “Failure to Prevent Fraud” that will make companies and partnerships liable for failing to stop employees, agents, or others acting on their behalf, for committing fraud for the benefit of the organisation or its customer, including Somerset Council. 

·       Approved the fraud action plan for 2024/25 and notes that an update will be presented to Audit Committee in 2024 following SWAP Internal Audit’s revised fraud baseline assessment and fraud risk register update, to be completed by September 2024. 

·       Approved the publication of information regarding the Council’s counter-fraud activities covering the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, in adherence to the requirements of the Local Government Transparency Code 2015.  

·       Noted a Fraud Officer is to be appointed on an initial 6 to 12-month fixed term contract; and  

·       Noted that data on staff completing fraud training will be provided to Audit Committee by April 2025.