19 July 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on North Norfolk District Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett, has today
published an inspection report by the BFI on North Norfolk District Council.
In 2003/04, North Norfolk District Council administered some £18 million
in housing benefits, about 32 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure.
Overall, although the council did not meet any of the seven functional areas
of Performance Standards it was providing a fair standard of its Housing
Benefit and Council Tax Benefit administration and counter-fraud activities.
Surveys by the council showed high levels of customer satisfaction in terms
of the physical reception facilities, the quality of advice available and
improvements in the speed of the service. But the council had been striving
to cope with a backlog of work since June 2004 and processing delays meant
performance was below the Standards required to decide new claims and changes
of circumstances.
The council’s counter-fraud work was under-resourced. The council
operated from December 2003 until September 2004 without any investigators
and had not achieved any successful prosecutions. Overpayments arose because
notified changes of circumstances were not dealt with promptly and overpayment
recovery was ineffective. Management information necessary to monitor the
level and age of Housing Benefit debt was not collected.
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.
James Plaskitt, Minister for Housing Benefit and Anti-Fraud, announced the
publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.
Notes to Editors
1. The inspection at North Norfolk District Council included an initial
fact finding stage, an on-site visit and production and clearance of the
report. The on-site visit took place during January and February 2005.
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. Media copies of the BFI inspection report can be obtained from the Department
for Work and Pensions Press Office on 020 7238 0866. All BFI inspection
reports can be found on the BFI website – www.bfi.gov.uk.
Press office: 0207 238 0866
BFI Press enquiries 01423 83 2982
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 0207 712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk