WIREDGOV

Responding to the release of the Audit Commission's 'Protecting the public purse' report, Cllr Peter Fleming, Chairman of the LGA's Improvement and Innovation Board, said:

"Councils work very hard to identify those who are cheating taxpayers, in spite of cuts to funding, and will continue to do the best they can to deliver value for money for residents.

"Last year the LGA helped devise and launch Fighting Fraud Locally, the first national framework to tackle fraud against councils, which is continuing to prove a success. However, we are concerned councils' abilities to tackle non-benefit fraud could be compromised if Government plans to transfer fraud staff to a proposed national benefits fraud agency are realised.

"We have worked hard to ensure councils share knowledge and the best ways to tackle fraud and the good work being done across the sector, such as with social housing fraud, highlights this.

"Local authorities firmly believe it is important to account for every penny of public money and as a sector we are resolute in our determination to stamp out fraud."

Contact

Ruth Pott-Negrine, Senior Media Relations Officer
Local Government Association
Telephone: 020 7664 3351
Email: ruth.pott-negrine@local.gov.uk