REPORT OF THE

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

PART II

CORPORATE ANTI-FRAUD AND CORRUPTION STRATEGY

1. The Committee has approved an anti-fraud and corruption strategy which consolidates existing policies and provides a framework for further development of the County Council's procedures which aims to counter the incidence of fraud or corruption. Over the years the County Council has enjoyed a relatively low rate of fraud and other irregularities due mainly to its sound control environment, reporting arrangements which encourage openness and honesty, and also effective measures for prevention and detection. This assessment has been endorsed by the Audit Commission's review and conclusions as part of the annual audit letter for many years.

2. The introduction of formal corporate governance arrangements and the Comprehensive Performance Assessment process have led to the need to raise the profile of measures to counter fraud and also to encourage awareness of proper policies and procedures on the part of staff in all departments.

3. The detailed strategy now approved consolidates best practice and updates existing policies, with the aim of strengthening the County Council's procedures. It endorses the key principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership which lie at the heart of the County Council's culture of probity and opposition to fraud or corruption. The Committee draws specific attention to the responsibilities on every one - Members and Officers - to report their concerns should they become aware of any impropriety.

4. The County Council's corporate governance framework incorporates many policies and procedures which enable concerns to be raised and investigated, notably:

· Codes of conduct for Members and Officers

· Financial Regulations and Procedures

· Contract Standing Orders

· Internal Audit

· Risk Management

· Reporting concerns at work

· Complaints procedure

· Disciplinary procedure


In addition there is external scrutiny from bodies such as the Audit Commission, the Local Government Ombudsman and various external inspectorates.

5. The Committee considers that the County Council has in place a network of systems and procedures to prevent fraud or corruption from occurring in the first place, and to detect and prosecute in the rare instances when they do occur. They will keep procedures regularly under review, with a view to their being kept up to date and effective.

6. The item summarised in the above paragraphs relates to Aims 5 and 6 of the Corporate Strategy - Improving services and developing Councillors and staff.

T.K. THORNBER, CBE

Chairman

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