29 June 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on Gosport Borough Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett, has today published an inspection report by the BFI on Gosport Borough Council's processing of claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
In 2003/04, Gosport Borough Council administered some £15.1 million in housing benefits, about 34 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure.
Gosport Borough Council had made significant improvements in the time taken
to process new claims and was now taking an average of 25 days although
to some extent this improvement had been achieved at the expense of quality.
Weaknesses in management checking and poor reporting of performance failed
to provide Members or senior officers with adequate assurance about the
true levels of performance. This was compounded by a failure to monitor
the implementation of audit recommendations.
Poor publicity and failure to assess the needs of working customers and ethnic minority groups limited access to the service. The requirements of Race Relations legislation had not been fully met. Failure to record all customer complaints was a particular concern.
The council's classification of overpayments was incorrect in some instances and this calls into question the accuracy and validity of the 2004/05 subsidy claim.
An effective counter-fraud team used an 'intelligence led' system that maximised the time, training and expertise of its investigators and led to an increase in the volume of sanctions administered. However, we were concerned by the limited adherence to guidance in the council's own prosecution policy when a sanction was administered.
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, anti-fraud Minister, announced the publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.
Notes to Editors
- 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.
- 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.
Department for Work and Pensions Press enquiries 020 7238
0758
BFI Press enquiries 01423 83 2982
Out of Hours 07659 108883
Public enquiries 020 7712 2171