Rising Local Government Corruption

The Audit Commission, in its last report before closure, reports that fraud in local government is rising.  One assumes that Eric Pickles regrets this, although his actions appear to promote it.  Some of the rise may be linked to people cutting corners as they get more desperate, but much is down to a running down of safeguards against corruption.  Not for the first time, Eric Pickles actions seem to conflict with his stated aims.