Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Audit Committee has received a strong assurance report for the 2025/26 municipal year, with internal audits indicating robust governance, risk management, and control frameworks across the majority of council services. The council has successfully avoided issuing 'Nil Assurance' reports for ten consecutive years, a testament to its effective governance and control arrangements.
During the Audit Committee meeting on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the Head of Internal Audit, Cindy Niki Akshapong, presented the annual report, highlighting that 87% of audits conducted during the year received a positive assurance opinion. Three audits achieved the highest rating of substantial assurance,
indicating that the systems of internal control were sound and control processes were consistently applied. These high-assurance audits covered Housing Repairs, the Registrar Service, and H&S Gas Safety.
The report noted that two audits received limited assurance
: one concerning St. Mary's RC Primary School and another related to lift maintenance within the Housing service. For lift maintenance, the service has reportedly implemented all recommendations, with an immediate follow-up audit showing positive initial feedback. The audit had identified improvements needed in areas including LOLER compliance, tracking of remedial actions, asset register accuracy, servicing and inspection scheduling, post-inspection workflows, no access procedures, performance reporting, and policies and procedures. Positive initial feedback indicates that a number of recommendations [have] already been implemented or [are] actively in progress,
with nearly all recommendations verified as implemented.
The 'limited assurance' for St. Mary's RC Primary School was due to serious, basic issues
identified in the audit. Follow-up actions are currently in progress, with a progress report expected by September to provide feedback on the implementation of recommendations.
Overall, 98% of the 89 recommendations followed up during the year were fully or partly implemented, with 82 recorded as fully implemented. This high implementation rate was attributed to the drive from the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Assurance. The SLT Assurance forum actively lists audit recommendations and ensures service areas implement them.
'Nil Assurance' reports signify that control processes are generally weak, leaving processes or systems open to significant error or abuse. The council's consistent avoidance of such reports underscores the overall effectiveness of its governance, risk management, and control arrangements.
Further details on the Audit Committee's reports can be found in the Public reports pack for 23 June 2026 and the Agenda frontsheet.
