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Legal

Anti-fraud and corruption

You do not have to give us your name and contact details, you can remain anonymous if you prefer. 

We are committed to addressing fraud and corruption, including:

  • Council tax reduction
  • Council Tax exemption
  • Business rates
  • Housing fraud
  • Disabled Parking / Blue Badge
  • Offences committed by employees, councillors, suppliers and contractors
  • Grant claims
  • Procurement
  • Social care
  • School admissions
  • Other types of fraud

Please refer to the Benefit Fraud page for information on Housing Benefit fraud.

Report all suspected frauds to internal audit

01642 526176 or [email protected]

Find out more about Fraud

Why do people carry out Fraud?

What does a fraudster look like?

Remember

  • Always be extremely wary should anyone ask you to make changes to any of your banking arrangements.
  • Alert NAFN emailing [email protected]or [email protected] so it can make all members aware.
  • And in England, Wales and Northern Ireland if you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to Action Fraud UK [external link] or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Whistle blowing policy 

This policy is for:

  • employees
  • contractors
  • suppliers
  • voluntary workers

who have major concerns over wrong-doings about the Council.

For example:

  • fraud
  • corruption
  • unlawfulness
  • health and safety risks
  • environmental damage
  • sexual abuse
  • physical abuse
  • unethical conduct

The policy tells you how to raise concerns and how they will be dealt with.

Darlington Borough Council whistle blowing policy [pdf document].

Public Spaces Protection Order - Darlington Town Centre

A PSPO is an order made by a local authority that deals with certain types of behaviour taking place that is considered to have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of others.

The new Order was approved by Cabinet on 22 June 2022 and is in force from 4 July 2022.

Public Space Protection Order - Town Centre [PDF Document]

Claims for compensation

Who are the Council’s insurer’s?

  • Zurich Municipal
  • Portal ID Address C00108
  • Policy number QLA-08U002-0013

How can I make a claim against the council?

There is no automatic right to compensation and incidents/accidents do occur that are not due to any negligence on the part of the Council, or indeed anyone else.

All claims made against Darlington Borough Council will be thoroughly investigated.

Claims made against the Council must include as much detail as possible including:

  • Your full name and address
  • For personal injury claims include date of birth and National Insurance Number
  • The exact date and time of the incident
  • The exact location of the incident supported if possible by photographs and a map of the area pinpointing the location
  • A detailed explanation of the circumstances of the incident
  • Full details of all losses incurred/injuries sustained together with supporting documentation if possible
  • The reason why you think the council is at fault for this accident

Legally represented claims involving personal injury should follow the Claims Portal process.

Self-represented claims can be directed by emailing [email protected] or by writing to:

Darlington Borough Council, Risk and Insurance, room 301, Town Hall, Darlington, DL1 5QT

Exchange of information

To protect public funds the Council will take all relevant action to detect and prevent fraud.

Information provided to the Council by claimants, excluding bank details, may be passed to others for the purpose of detection and prevention of fraud.

This includes, but is not limited to, the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) run by the Insurance Database Services Ltd (IDSL) and the Motor Insurers Anti Fraud Register run by the Association of British Insurers.

In dealing with a claim, searches may be made of these and other registers.

The Council and its claims handlers will make use of the information given in respect of any claim as part of our zero tolerance approach towards fraud. For the same purpose details of any claim may be released to other organisations, which also have a duty to protect public funds.

How to report a fraudulent claim against the council

If you wish to report a suspected fraudulent claim you can do so in confidence by emailing [email protected], calling 01325 388096 or writing to the address above. All reports are treated as confidential.

Code of Conduct

Every local authority is required to adopt a code of conduct that sets out rules governing the behaviour of its members and employees.

Community Right to Challenge

The Community Right to Challenge enables communities to challenge to take over local services they think they could run differently and better.

 Dog control orders

On the 20 October 2017, Darlington Borough Council’s Dog Control Orders (DCOs) changed automatically to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The content of the PSPO is exactly the same as the previous dog controls and restrictions.

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) specify an area where activities are taking place that are or may likely be detrimental to the local community’s quality of life.

PSPOs impose conditions or restrictions on people using that area. More information can been found on our dog warden pages

Hurworth Village green

Notice in respect of amendment of the relevant entry in he ownership section of the register of Hurworth Village green. Please see the notice and amended ownership section of the register below:

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)

RIPA is the law governing the use of covert techniques by public authorities.

It is consistent with the Human Rights Act 1998.

It requires that when public authorities need to use covert techniques to obtain private information about someone, they do it in a way that is necessary, proportionate, and compatible with human rights.

If  you have concerns about the Councils use of surveillance/RIPA contact the Council’s Monitoring Officer – [email protected] or the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office (IPCO) have published guidance for persons wishing to disclose information about the use of investigatory powers. Disclosing information to IPCO [pdf document]

Parish meetings

Declaration of Inactivity 2023/24 for Coatham Mundeville and Morton Palms Parish Councils.  It has been confirmed with Mazars LLP, external auditors, that there were no meetings and no financial activity (income/expenditure) during 2023/24 for these 2 parishes. 

Bylaws

Bylaws are specific pieces of legislation made by the council to deal with specific issues. Breaches of byelaws are prosecuted in the Magistrates' Court.

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