Audit

Friday, July 3, 2026 somerset fraud benefits council tax singlepersondiscounts audit referrals public vigilance

Benefit fraud in Somerset has surged, partly due to Somerset Council’s failure to upgrade its outdated benefits processing systems. Established in April 2023, the council inherited legacy systems from its four … Read More

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 somerset finance council cipfa conservatives liberaldemocrats budget governance audit localelections

Somerset’s two main political parties are embroiled in a fierce dispute following a scathing independent report on the financial management of Somerset Council. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy … Read More

Friday, March 13, 2026 gallagher prem rugby bath rugbycap audit salarycap compliance forensic saracens sport

Bath Rugby has been officially cleared of any salary cap breaches after undergoing a rigorous second forensic audit, conducted following their victory in the Gallagher PREM Rugby league this June. Under league regulations, … Read More

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 redbrickbuilding glastonbury lifesfactory somerssetcouncil community funding crisis closure audit regeneration

The Red Brick Building in Glastonbury is at risk of closing after the collapse of the Life Factory regeneration project, which saw nearly £3 million of public funds fail to deliver the intended community transformation. On … Read More

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 redbrickbuilding glastonbury lifefactory somersetcouncil regeneration community financialcrisis insolvency publicfunds audit

The future of the Red Brick Building in Glastonbury hangs in the balance following the collapse of the Life Factory regeneration project, which squandered nearly £3 million of public funds. On December 9, Somerset Council … Read More

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 glastonbury somerset lifefactory council publicfunds audit redbrickbuilding contractors investigation regeneration

Somerset Council has been urged by Conservative Councillor Susannah Hart to cease allocating public funds to the troubled Life Factory project in Glastonbury. The £2.89 million venture aimed to revitalize part of the Red … Read More

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 glastonbury somerset council lifefactory redbrickbuilding funding audit regeneration publicspending investigation

A Conservative councillor has called on Somerset Council to stop using public money in an attempt to “salvage” the Life Factory project in Glastonbury. The project, which aimed to transform part of the Red Brick … Read More

Saturday, December 20, 2025 somerset glastonbury lifefactory governance audit funding projectmanagement localgovernment accountability townsfund

Somerset Council has been criticized for taking too long to halt the troubled Life Factory project in Glastonbury, according to a recently published ‘lessons learned’ report. The report highlights critical errors in … Read More

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 somerset glastonbury lifefactory regeneration conflict governance council audit transparency publicfunds

The deputy leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Liz Leyshon, has been officially cleared of any conflict of interest related to the troubled Life Factory regeneration project in Glastonbury. The Life Factory project forms … Read More

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 somerset somersetcouncil glastonbury lifefactory regeneration governance conflict councillor audit localgovernment

The deputy leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Liz Leyshon, has been officially cleared of any conflict of interest relating to the troubled Life Factory regeneration project in Glastonbury. The Life Factory, housed within … Read More

Monday, December 15, 2025 glastonbury somerset regeneration lifefactory audit governance liquidation council funding infrastructure

Somerset Council’s chief executive, Duncan Sharkey, has publicly acknowledged significant mistakes in handling the regeneration of Glastonbury’s Life Factory project. Once a derelict site on Morland Road, the Red Brick … Read More

Monday, December 15, 2025 glastonbury somerset regeneration lifefactory somersetcouncil governance audit projectmanagement funding infrastructure

Somerset Council’s chief executive, Duncan Sharkey, has publicly admitted that the council mishandled the Glastonbury regeneration project known as the Life Factory. This initiative, part of the £23.6 million Glastonbury town … Read More

Saturday, December 13, 2025 somerset council budget finance savings transformation audit overspend government assets

Somerset Council is grappling with a severe financial crisis, facing a staggering £73 million budget gap that threatens its future viability. Councillors and auditors alike have warned that without urgent action, the council … Read More

Monday, December 1, 2025 send localgovernment finance audit northsomerset council deficit budget care debt

Auditors working with local governments are reporting unprecedented financial strain, marking every council’s finances as “red” amid rising debts in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and social … Read More

Monday, December 1, 2025 send finances councils audit sustainability deficit socialcare northsomerset budget government

Across the country, local government auditors have consistently rated council finances as “red,” reflecting a widespread crisis fueled by mounting debts from special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and social care. … Read More

Thursday, November 27, 2025 northsomerset reserves budget finance council audit socialcare funding deficit tax

North Somerset Council’s usable reserves are projected to fall sharply from £125.8 million in 2023/24 to just over £40 million by 2027/28, representing a staggering two-thirds decline, according to external auditors Grant … Read More

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 weca governance exitpayments publicfunds audit localgovernment politics finance scandal accountability

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has come under fire for spending nearly half a million pounds in one year on exit payments for senior staff, a sum condemned by a councillor as “a completely shocking waste of … Read More

Sunday, September 7, 2025 weca governance exitpackages staffturnover dannorris mayor audit procurement politicalrelations helengodwin

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) allocated nearly half a million pounds to exit packages and settlements for senior staff in Dan Norris’ final year as mayor. According to the 2024/25 interim annual report by … Read More

Monday, August 4, 2025 glastonbury redbrick regeneration council morlands sommerset audit community development neglect

A passionate Glastonbury resident has condemned the neglected state of the land surrounding the town’s historic Red Brick Building, calling on councillors to address the long-standing eyesore once and for all. At the July … Read More

Monday, August 4, 2025 glastonbury redbrick regeneration somerset community council amenities audit development derelict

A Glastonbury resident has voiced strong criticism over the neglected condition of the land surrounding the town’s iconic Red Brick Building, demanding urgent intervention from local councillors to address the persistent … Read More

Thursday, July 31, 2025 somerset glastonbury regeneration redbrickbuilding funding audit government projectmanagement towndeal infrastructure

The future of the troubled Somerset regeneration project at the Red Brick Building in Glastonbury remains uncertain after the government extended the deadline to spend all related funds by an additional 12 months. Located on … Read More

Monday, July 28, 2025 dorset dorsetcouncil audit financialmisconduct healthandsafety governance fraud procurement accountability transparency

Dorset Council has terminated the contracts of 11 interim officers following serious breaches of financial regulations and undisclosed gifts, according to a recently released internal audit report. These officers were … Read More

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 glastonbury resignation towndeal audit regeneration redbrickbuilding somersetcouncil community construction funding

The chair of the Glastonbury Town Deal Board, Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, has resigned following a critical audit into one of the town’s key government-backed regeneration initiatives. The town deal board, responsible for … Read More

Friday, May 16, 2025 glastonbury regeneration audit funding somersetcouncil redbrickbuilding lifefactory infrastructure governance accountability

Funding for the Glastonbury regeneration project, specifically the redevelopment of The Red Brick Building, has been suspended indefinitely following an independent audit that uncovered serious financial irregularities. … Read More