A local authority which called for an independent audit into its controversial decision to award an emergency £300,000 grant to a personal injury firm has kept tight-lipped about when the results will be published.
Bolton council confirmed that professional services firm KPMG is carrying out the audit but has said there is no expected completion date.
The audit was called for by Labour councillor and leader of the council Cliff Morris. Morris has faced calls to resign over the grant, which he awarded to Asons Solicitors under the emergency powers procedure late last year.
He refused to resign but said the audit would provide greater transparency.
The Gazette asked the council who was carrying out the audit, when it started and when it was expected to be complete.
A spokesperson said: ‘The audit has started and is being carried out by our independent auditors KPMG. We do not yet have a date of completion.’
Last week the Gazette reported that Margaret Asquith, the council’s chief executive, conceded that the grant should ‘probably not’ have been made under the emergency powers procedure.
According to the council, the grant was intended for Asons to refurbish its town centre offices.
However, the firm’s accounts show a dispute with the tax authorities also quantified at £300,000 and a loss of more than £1m for the year to May 2015.
There is no evidence linking the £300,000 dispute referred to in the accounts with the same sum handed to Asons for the building development work.
Council tight-lipped over audit into ‘secret’ £300k law firm grant
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