Telford & Wrekin Council officials anticipate ‘best possible outcome’ from auditors

Finance officers at Telford & Wrekin Council are anticipating the ‘best possible outcome’ from a multinational audit company’s deep dive into the authority’s multi-million pound accounts.

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A committee will be told that KPMG has ‘substantially completed’ the audit of the borough council’s accounts for 2025-26 finding them ‘materially accurate’.

Members of the council’s audit committee will be told that changes to the accounts do not alter its  previously reported £113,000 ‘underspend’ in the year.

The changes include increasing the value of property plant and equipment, an amendment in pension interest figures, and noting the receipt of two grants valued at more than £1 million.

The 171-page draft statement of accounts looks into how the council set and spent its £167.6 net revenue and £113.252 million capital budgets.

The report to next Wednesday’s meeting says that an “unmodified audit report along with an unqualified audit opinion” is the ‘best possible outcome’.

They add that this means that the auditor has “obtained sufficient evidence to support a view that the financial statements are materially accurate and fairly represent the audited body’s financial situation.”

But whilst the external audit was ‘substantially complete’, KPMG had not completed all of its work on the audit when the report was published.

The audit committee has delegated power to approve the council’s audited statement of accounts.

Councillors have been recommended to delegate authority to the council’s finance director, following consultation with the chair, to make any final changes prior to publication.