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31 January 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Report: London Borough of Harrow

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Alan Johnson has today published an inspection report by the BFI on the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit by London Borough of Harrow.

This follow-up inspection was undertaken because the Department had concerns over London Borough of Harrow’s ability to implement the recommendations made in BFI’s previous reports.

In 2003/04, London Borough of Harrow administered some £73 million in housing benefits, about 13 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure.

The inspection focused on the speed of processing new claims for benefit and changes of circumstances; areas of weakness in the past. The report identifies and highlights the significant progress made by the council in the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Since the last inspection the council has introduced number of changes, including a performance management system and implementing all recommendations relating to the processing of new claims and changes of circumstances made in the August 2003 BFI inspection report.

The report concludes the council’s performance against the majority of the Best Value Performance Indicators has improved and the council has delivered significant improvements in the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

In June 2004 London Borough of Harrow’s Performance Standards self-assessment showed it met 100 per cent of Standards. Under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment carried out in August 2004 BFI assessed the service as Good.

BFI is an independent unit within the Department for Work and Pensions that reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the standard of benefit administration and counter-fraud activity.

Chris Pond, Work and Pensions Minister announced the publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.

Notes for editors

  1. The process for the inspection at London Borough of Harrow included an initial fact finding stage, an on-site visit, and production and clearance of the report. The on-site visit took place during September 2004.
  2. Each BFI inspection report is considered by the Secretary of State who decides whether any further action is appropriate. The Secretary of State has powers to issue directions to a local authority to secure acceptable or minimum standards in performance.
  3. In its response to the Housing Green Paper of November 2000, the Department for Work and Pensions developed a performance framework for housing benefits. The HB/CTB Performance Standards, published in April 2002, enable local authorities to make a comprehensive self-assessment of whether they deliver benefit effectively and securely. These are the standards that the Department for Work and Pensions expects local authorities to aspire to and achieve in time.
  4. The Department for Work and Pensions has not set a timescale for when the standards need to be met by local authorities.
  5. BFI inspects against the seven functional areas of the Performance Standards:
    • Strategic management – clearly stated aims and action, resources and monitoring, with effective training and IT
    • Customer services – providing an efficient and prompt service that meets the needs of all customers and persons with a legitimate interest in a claim
    • Processing of claims – speedy and accurate claims processing with effective verification
    • Working with landlords – to give private landlords the confidence to let to customers and to support delivery of social housing
    • Internal security – preventing internal fraud
    • Counter-fraud – deterring, preventing, detecting and pursuing fraud
    • Overpayments – preventing, identifying and recovering overpayments.
  6. The HB/CTB Performance Standards can be downloaded from: www.dwp.gov.uk/housingbenefit/publications/2003.asp
  7. The BFI has responsibility for undertaking Comprehensive Performance Assessments for the Benefits services as part of the overall Comprehensive Performance Assessment announced in December 2001 in the Local Government White Paper “Strong Local Government – Quality Public Services”.
  8. Media copies of the BFI inspection report can be obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions Press Office on 020 7238 0866.
  9. All BFI inspection reports can be found on the BFI website – www.bfi.gov.uk.

Press office: 020 7238 0866
BFI Press enquiries: 01423 83 2938
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171

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