Fair processing notice

This authority is required by law to protect the public funds it administers.  It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

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 that requires further investigation.  Information will therefore be supplied to Credit Reference Agencies and other public bodies for cross referencing and further action where required.  No assumption will be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.

The Audit Commission* appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this authority. It may also carry out some data matching exercises.

The Audit Commission* currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud.  We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Audit Commission* for matching for each exercise, and these are set out in the Audit Commission’s* guidance. 

The use of data by the Audit Commission* in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998.  It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998; however the Authority has registered this activity within its corporate annual notification with the Information Commissioner.

Data matching by the Audit Commission* is subject to a Code of Practice.

We also participate with the DWP Credit Reference Agency data match exercises to identify non declared partners, information supplied by the council to the DWP may therefore be supplied to Credit Reference Agencies for cross referencing and our fraud investigations may possibly include checks on undeclared cohabiters.

* This refers to the Audit Commission or any successor.