SOUTHAMPTON City Council has sound systems in place for administering Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - but has inconsistent standards of verifying claims.

That's the main finding of a report published by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate - part of the Department of Work and Pensions headed by Secretary of State Alistair Darling.

Inspectors found that the council had some sound processes in place but that the overall service provided had a number of weaknesses.

As a result of the problems that were identified, the report says the council could not provide the necessary assurance that access to benefits was secure.

In addition, at the time of the inspection, the council had five different claim forms with "significant" variations in quality and style.

But the BFI has noted that the council has begun the process of designing a single claim form taking into account the BFI model claim form.

The BFI has also highlighted a number of good council practices including identifying and classifying overpayments and the way that the council trains and develops new staff.

The report has also recommended a better use of the fraud case management system although the council had recognised there were problems with its fraud unit and was re-organising it at the time of the inspection.

The council's Cabinet member for corporate management, Councillor Peter Jenks, said the council welcomed the publication of the report.

He said: "I'm pleased that so many sound practices were identified. The inconsistent standards of verifying and the use of different claim forms were valid criticisms highlighted in the report."