Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Audit Committee has approved the financial statements for the 2025/26 fiscal year, with external auditors Grant Thornton UK LLP issuing an unqualified opinion. This opinion signifies that the accounts present a true and fair view of the Council's financial position, with no audit adjustments identified that would impact the General Fund. The Audit Findings Report (AFR) confirmed that work on the financial year was broadly completed as planned, and auditors were not aware of any issues that would necessitate a modified opinion.
The Audit Committee met on Thursday, 24 September 2026, to review the Statement of Accounts for 2025/26. The meeting agenda and public reports pack can be found on the council's democracy portal.
While the overall financial picture was positive, three low-priority recommendations were made concerning housekeeping matters. These related to the journal control environment, asset depreciation, and lease accounting. Management provided responses indicating plans for improvement in these areas.
The meeting concluded with the committee resolving to exclude the public and press to discuss exempt information. This decision was made following a verbal update on cyber security management, which included details on actions taken in response to a previous cyber incident. This specific item contained information deemed exempt under council procedures.
Further details on the Council's financial performance and asset management can be found in accompanying charts, including fund assets, annualised fund performance, and asset allocation. The fund's performance against its strategic benchmark over various periods, as well as administration costs per member and fund membership trends, were also presented.
