Gateshead Council lost over £16,000 through seven cases of fraud last year

Seven cases of proven fraud cost Gateshead taxpayers over £16,000 last financial year, local authority documents reveal.

According to a report presented to the local authority's audit and standards committee, the council's corporate fraud team identified seven cases of financial thievery, totalling £16,080 of "overpayments".

When questioned on whether efforts had been made to recoup the money, Craig Oakes, Gateshead Council chief auditor, said:" I couldn't comment on the specifics but we make efforts to recover all monies and there are things in process".

READ MORE:Massive Newcastle vinyl collection sells for more than £50,000

READ MORE:Newcastle University faces £35m blackhole as international student numbers decline

Mr Oakes said he would furnish the committee with more details in time.

In addition, five other incidents of fraud were identified including one case of the "misuse" of a manager's card by an ex-council employee after leaving the local authority's employment. An invoice was issued in order to recover the pilfered cash.

One investigation into a case of alleged "overclaiming" for overtime saw a council employee leave the organisation. Another investigation into false timekeeping saw three employees sacked from the council.

When again questioned on whether the council had brought Northumbria Police into any cases, Mr Oakes said: "Depending on the nature of it we will consider referring to the police, it is up to individual service directors to decide to involve the police or not. Without being specific we have involved the police on some but none have been of a scale where the police had an interest in taking them on."

The council's audit report stated: "Whilst we cannot provide 100% assurance that fraud is not occurring within the Council or within the group entity all reasonable steps and controls are in place, reviewed and any suspicions investigated to reduce the risk of any fraudulent activity."