Builder fraud and unpaid tax 'rumbled by council teams'

UNPAID council tax, fraud by a builder and misappropriation of school funds by a teacher were all rumbled by council teams in Carmarthenshire, a meeting heard.

- RICHARD YOULE

The authority's revenues and financial compliance service deals with fraud and corruption referrals, while its consumer and business affairs service tackles fraud arising from inappropriate trading.

A report before the council's governance and audit committee said the work of the consumer and business affairs service resulted in 15 convictions in 2024-25 and prevented an estimated £8.6m of fraudulent activity.

An example of the work carried out by the authority followed a tip-off that council tax wasn't being paid by the owner of two cottages. A visit was made and, as a result, the owner was billed £5,376.76.