Issue - meetings

Report from the Section 151 officer attached

Report from the Section 151 officer attached

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report providing an overview of the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy, the Whistleblowing (Confidential Reporting) Policy, the Fraud & Corruption Prosecution Policy, Anti Bribery Policy and Anti Money Laundering Policy.

The Anti-Fraud & Corruption Strategy and associated polices, available on the internet, are dated 2023. This report brought to Audit Committee presents the Anti-Fraud & Corruption Strategy and the revised associated policies and seeks approval of these documents.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and the following points were raised.

• Councillor Hayes referred to reducing the risk of fraud through an education programme to staff and residents and asked how this would be done?

It was explained that residents have the opportunity to report fraud through the council website. It was also explained that by publicising successful cases that have led to prosecution will educate and encourage people to report.

• Councillor Hook asked why the suppliers in schools had been removed from the anti-bribery policy.

It was explained that schools should have their own policies and strategies and this should be included within them. It was also explained that the majority of schools in Bury were now or soon would be academies.

• Mr Webster referred to the whistleblowing and the employees suspicion of fraud where it stated what employees should do. He aske if a section on what employees shouldn’t do should be included to stop employees from carrying out their own investigations.

It was confirmed that this would be included and would state that it is not an exhaustive list.

• Mr Webster referred to the newly introduced Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act and asked if this should be referenced.

It was confirmed that this would be included.

• Councillor Moss referred to the Whistleblowing where it states that employees living in Bury could contact ‘their’ local Councillor. 

It was explained that this reference was being removed on the advice of the legal department.

·         Councillor Moss referred to the date on the Strategy as 2025 – 2027 and stated that the Strategy would not be implemented until 2026 so should be dated as 2026 – 2027.

It was stated that the date on the strategy would be removed.

It was also explained that reference on how to contact the Comptroller and Auditor General would be included and all references to Mazars would be changed to ‘Forvis Mazars’

It was agreed;

That subject to the amendments and additions highlighted in the comments,

• The Audit Committee approve the Anti-Fraud & Corruption Strategy
• The Audit Committee approve the Whistleblowing (Confidential Reporting) Policy
• The Audit Committee approve the Fraud and Corruption Prosecution Policy
• The Audit Committee approve the Anti Bribery Policy
• The Audit Committee approve the Anti Money Laundering Policy