Double award nominations for Cotswold District Council fraud team

Head of Service Emma Cathcart has been nominated as a Female Pioneer of the Year in the awards, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and innovative approach within local government. 

Meanwhile, the entire team has been shortlisted for Team of the Year - an honour that celebrates the collective achievements of every member and highlights how their dedication and consistent service have driven success. 

Among a string of successes, the team’s achievements include complex, high-profile investigations such as the recent successful prosecution of an employee for polygamous working across multiple councils - a case resulting in a three-year prison sentence and ongoing recovery of £250,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. 

Cotswold District Council’s deputy chief Executive David Stanley praised the impact of Emma and her team: “Emma gets things done - the difficult tasks that need to be completed to the highest standard. Her passion and dedication give us confidence that our councils are in safe hands,” he said.  

“At the same time, the entire team deserves recognition for their exceptional work and the consistent success they’ve achieved over the years.” 

Emma began her career as a Benefit Fraud Investigator at Cotswold District Council before spearheading the creation of the CFEU - a shared service that now operates across six partner councils and multiple external clients. Despite having no formal training in managing a shared service, Emma built the unit from the ground up, navigating complex governance arrangements and securing its long-term success. 

Under Emma’s leadership, the CFEU has grown into a respected team of 14 officers, delivering fraud prevention, investigation, and enforcement services across a wide range of areas, including planning, environmental crime, licensing, and food safety.  

Emma’s work collaborating with stakeholders across the sector was also key to her award nomination.  She chairs the Multi Agency Against Fraud (MAAF) group, securing funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to launch a new website aimed at raising fraud awareness among Gloucestershire residents. Her expertise is sought nationally, contributing to roundtable discussions with the Public Sector Fraud Authority and pilot work with the Department for Work and Pensions. 

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in February 2026.