The Department for Education has not been sent an audit commissioned to examine Hereford’s new university’s finances despite council auditors highlighting concerns, a freedom of information request has revealed.
In July, local resident Nichola Geeson asked Herefordshire Council’s audit and governance committee if taxpayers would have to refund the money paid by the DfE after internal auditors raised concerns over New Model in Technology and Engineering draw down of funding.
The council said there was no risk having to refund any payments as they had not been asked to act as a guarantor.
“Herefordshire Council acts as the accountable body in respect of the DfE’s grants to NMiTE,” the council response read.
“Being the accountable body includes reporting to the DfE of any concerns that they should be aware of.
“South West Audit Partnership have found no concerns in respect of the defrayment of the majority of the DfE’s grant to NMiTE.
“There are a number of issues that it is has been deemed appropriate to bring to the attention of the DfE that are detailed in the report to the DfE.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the DfE under freedom of information legislation if they could reveal what issues were highlighted and whether they held any more information on the concerns regarding defrayment.
However, a DfE information officer said they could not and were not sent a copy of the audit commissioned by the council.
“Following a search of the Department’s paper and electronic records, I have established that the Department was not sent a copy of the audit and the Department does not hold any information on this audit and as result we cannot provide you with information beyond that which is already public.
“This audit was commissioned by Herefordshire Council in their role as accountable body,” he said.
The information currently in the public domain is that council auditors said they were concerned over how NMiTE records the money it is spending on consultants.
They were also concerned over the lack of detailed evidence supplied to support the milestones and conditions required for capital and revenue grant funding during 2017/18.
Auditors said there was a lack of continuity in financial reporting over the last year.
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