We're required by law to protect any public funds that we administer. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing, administering public funds or where undertaking a public function, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
We participate in the Cabinet Office's National Fraud Initiative. This is a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We're obliged to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise. The Cabinet Office is responsible for carrying out data matching exercises in accordance with the code of data matching practice.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it may indicate that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.
For further information on the Cabinet Office exercise please see:
Read about the National Fraud Initiative's public-sector data requirements at GOV.UK
For further information please contact us:
Email: nfi.WAF@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
What information we collect
The Cabinet Office has set out the core mandatory data requirements for public sector bodies participating in the NFI. For Unitary Councils these include the following:
- payroll
- pensions
- trade creditors’ payment history and trade creditors’ standing data
- housing (current tenants) and right to buy
- housing waiting lists
- housing benefits (provided by the Department of Work and Pensions - DWP)
- council tax reduction scheme
- council tax (required annually)
- electoral register (required annually)
- students eligible for a loan (provided by the Student Loans Company - SLC)
- transport passes and permits (including residents’ parking, blue badges and concessionary travel)
- licences – taxi drivers
- residential care homes
- personal budgets (subject to completion of a legislative amendment)
The core mandatory data requirements are subject to change with each exercise.
Read about the latest requirements at GOV.UK
How we collect your data
As part of this service the council will collect personal, special category personal or criminal/law enforcement data from you in the following ways:
- online
- phone
- by email or in writing
- in person
Why we collect your data
We collect personal, special category personal or criminal/law enforcement data to enable it to:
- manage the services we provide to you including improving quality and investigating any worries or complaints about those services
- corporate administration and all activities we are required to carry out as a data controller and public authority
- conduct committee meetings including virtual meetings
- registering and maintaining online customer accounts
- support internal financial and corporate functions by maintaining accounts and records
- support and manage employees
- planning of new services
- promote services
- market local tourism
- conduct public/health awareness campaigns
- manage property
- provide leisure and cultural services
- provide education services
- carry out surveys and consultations
- administer the assessment and collection of taxes and other revenue i.e., benefits, grants
- carry out licensing and regulatory activities
- provide social services to adults and children
- assist with crime prevention and prosecution of offenders such as CCTV
- undertake research
- provide all commercial services such as administration and enforcement of parking regulations and restrictions
- provide non-commercial activities such as refuse collections from residential properties
- manage archived records for historical research
- match data under local and national fraud initiatives
- support public health services
Who we collect data from
To provide data for matching under the National Fraud Initiative, your data may be collected from or about:
- businesses, customers and suppliers
- carers or representatives
- claimants
- healthcare users
- landlords
- licence and permit holders
- professional advisers and consultants
- recipients of benefits
- representatives of other organisations
- staff, persons contracted to provide a service
- councillors
- students and pupils
- traders and others subject to inspection
- other departments within the council
We may receive personal, special category personal or criminal/law enforcement data about you from the third parties mentioned above and other public bodies and organisations. In this case, we will tell you the source of the information unless we are unable to do so by law.
Who we share your personal data with
Where there is a lawful reason to do so as part of the National Fraud Initiative personal, special category personal or criminal/law enforcement data may be shared.
Read more details about who the data may be shared with at GOV.UK
Legal basis
We process personal data by selecting at least one legal basis from:
- UKGDPR Article 6(1) (c) Legal Obligation
- UKGDPR Article 6(1) (e) Public Task/Public Interest/Official Authority
Where the National Fraud Initiative is relying on UKGDPR Article 6(1)(c) all Relevant Legislation should be listed below.
We process special category personal data under the condition of UKGDPR Article 9(2) (g) Substantial public interest.
We process criminal and law enforcement data by selecting at least one legal basis from:
- Data Protection Act 2018 Schedule 1(2)(6) Statutory and Government Purposes
- Data Protection Act 2018 Schedule 1(2)(10) Preventing/Detecting Unlawful Acts
Relevant legislation
The relevant legislation includes Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (LAAA): Schedule 9.