Issue - meetings

That the report be noted.

The Revenues & Benefits Manager presented the report on the transfer of the Housing Benefit Fraud Investigation to the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) Fraud and Error Service.

It was explained that responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of Housing Benefit fraud was to pass from all Councils to the newly formed Single Fraud Investigation Service (SFIS) by March 2016, managed by DWP.  Council officers in Flintshire were working with SFIS to achieve their set transfer date of 1 October 2014 when the Council would no longer have statutory powers to investigate incidents of fraud.  The implications for the small investigations team in Flintshire were set out in the report and it was explained that the Council would maintain responsibility for reporting suspected fraud cases to SFIS by email.  Confirmation was awaited on the level of new burdens funding for the support work required in providing Housing Benefit information to the new service.

In response to a query from Councillor Haydn Bateman, the Revenues & Benefits Manager reported on the transfer of the Council’s two investigators to SFIS.

The Chief Executive said that there had been some concerns about the early transfer date for Flintshire and the possible impact on quality of service.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.