Fraud investigators at Swindon Borough Council have saved the authority, or brought in extra funds, to a total of more than £3.1m in the last financial year.

A report to councillors on Euclid Street’s audit committee by  Nick Hobbs, the head of internal audit and corporate fraud, said: “During 2023/24 the Corporate Fraud team recovered eight properties, with an estimated saving (using a nationally recognised figure), of £744,000.

“It stopped twelve right-to-buy applications resulting in savings in discounts that would have been allowed on the sale of properties of £1,039,400 and seven housing applications meaning savings of £22,680.

“These and other savings (both nominal and actual) totalled £1,834,567 during the year compared to £1,513,714 in 2022/23.

!In addition, work on council tax single person discount using electoral roll and credit agency matches identified an additional £272,723.

“Work on empty homes found 219 properties to be occupied resulting in an additional £452,235 in empty homes bonus.”

The total savings or additional income came to more than £3.1m.

The audit team has also investigated two allegations of wrongdoing at the council made by staff through the authority’s whistleblowing process. Those investigations have not been made public.

Councillors thanked Mr Hobbs for the work of his team.