Issue - decisions

Single Fraud Investigation Service

19/10/2011 - Single Fraud Investigation Service

A report of the Director of Finance informed the Cabinet 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 HMRC. The report detailed the current situation, the Department for Work and Pensions proposals to better harmonise this work from 2013 and recommended 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.

 

DWP had identified four options for LA staff joining SFIS. The first two related to LA staff remaining LA employees, while the second two relate to LA staff becoming employees of DWP.

 

Option 1. LA staff remain employed by LAs, but operate under SFIS powers,policies, processes and priorities. This brings LA investigation staff into SFIS under a procedural change. By leaving employment and location unchanged this option would allow LAs the flexibility to redeploy resources to meet other LA priorities if required.

 

Option 2.LA staff remain employed by LAs and remain situated in LAs but are seconded to the DWP. This option means all LA investigation staff are under formal secondment to DWP and operate under SFIS powers, policies, processes and priorities. This brings LA investigation staff into SFIS under both management and procedural changes. This option would allow LAs a limited degree of flexibility to recall and redeploy resources to meet other LA priorities, under the terms of a secondment agreement.

 

Option 3. LA staff become DWP employees but deliver investigation locally from LA offices. This option means all LA investigation staff become DWP employees and operate under SFIS powers, policies, processes and priorities but do not move physically. This brings LA investigation staff into SFIS under both management and procedural changes.

 

Option 4. LA staff become part of the DWP working within DWP offices as DWP employees and operate under SFIS powers, policies, processes and priorities. This brings LA investigation staff into SFIS under both management and procedural changes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Option 1 that will see Local Authority staff remain employed by each Local Authority and operate under the Single Fraud Investigation Service powers, policies, processes and priorities be supported.