The Vice Chairman of the Finance Advisory Committee and Deputy Portfolio Holder for Finance was invited to present the report which requested approval of the introduction of civil penalties and proposed a revised Sanctions & Prosecutions Policy.  He advised that the Finance Advisory Committee had considered and debated the same report and had agreed to recommend it to Cabinet.

The Fraud Manager further advised that the primary intention of the proposal was for penalties to be used as a deterrent measure creating a culture of reporting changes, not a regular source of income. No budget had been set for this change.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That the introduction of civil penalties and the associated guidelines at Appendix A of the report, and the proposed revised Sanctions & Prosecutions Policy detailed at Appendix B of the report, be approved.