Auditors confident accounting will improve at council-owned Telford theatre
Auditors are confident that the accounting system at Telford's council-owned theatre in Oakengates will improve.
The Place closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, but, in line with its 2020-21 plan, Telford & Wrekin Council's internal auditors assessed its accounting and financial record-keeping practices remotely over the summer.
A report, by principal auditor Tracey Drummond and audit and governance team leader Rob Montgomery, said it was handed a “poor” rating, colour-coded red, in August.
It did not specify what concerns auditors had but said a follow-up audit a week later upgraded that to “reasonable”, with a further assessment due this month.
Ms Drummond told the audit committee: “We’re sure that the next follow-up will probably see things move to green.”
She added: “We’ve worked with the service area to improve that.
“I thought it was important to show that, although, due to Covid, staff haven’t necessarily been working in those areas – especially things like The Place where the building has been closed – they’ve actually worked very hard to put these improvements in place.”
Ms Drummond’s and Mr Montgomery’s report explained that assurance-level grades had been issued to 20 business areas between January and September this year.
The Place was the only one to receive a “poor” rating. Seven were rated “good”, meaning “there is a sound system of control designed to address relevant risks and consistently applied”, while seven more were “reasonable”.
Five received “limited” assurance, including Telford Ice Rink, but Ms Drummond said a follow-up audit had been completed and had given it a green rating.
