The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Finance reported that currently, benefits fraud prevention and detection was undertaken by Local Authorities for Housing and Council Tax Benefits along with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). He provided details of the current situation and set out DWP proposals to better harmonise the work from 2013. He outlined the options that had been considered and reported that the Cabinet (minute 154 (13 October 2011) refers) had agreed to the Director’s recommendation that Wirral supports the favoured DWP option of retaining the Council Fraud staff working directly in the Council but adhering to the Single Fraud Investigation Service proposed powers, policies, processes and priorities.

Resolved – That the report be noted and the favoured option agreed by the Cabinet be supported.