Frome Town Council (FTC) has published the findings of an independent audit into the financial transactions of the Frome Town Community Benefit Society (FTCBS), relating to the grant-funded repair and improvement works at Badgers Hill Stadium. The audit was commissioned by FTC in response to questions raised by members of the public and stakeholders, and as part of the council’s commitment to due diligence and transparency in the use of public funds. The report has been redacted in line with Frome Town Council’s data protection obligations and so personal information has been removed.
The FTCBS was set up in 2023 as an independent body to lease and manage the Badgers Hill stadium, after the town council stepped in to prevent the site’s reposession the year before.
The independent review focused specifically on the use of grant funding by the FTCBS to deliver the Badgers Hill improvement project. At the time the audit was undertaken, the Community Benefit Society had ceased trading and not all accounting records were available. As a result, the audit was limited to the evidence that could be accessed at that time.
Based on the information available, the auditor concluded that the majority of grant funding received by the Community Benefit Society was applied to project-related expenditure and that there was no indication that project funds were intentionally diverted elsewhere.
Chair and Leader of FTC Fiona Barrows said:
“Frome Town Council commissioned this independent audit in response to concerns raised locally and to ensure that the use of public grant funding was properly reviewed. The money in question is not FTC’s and did not come from local taxpayers, but it’s right to have full transparency around how the grants obtained for the improvements to this important local venue have been spent. We have shared the audit document with the funders.
“It is important to note that this was a limited audit focused specifically on the improvement project funds. A full forensic audit would involve significant cost and would not be a proportionate use of public funds.
“It is clear from the audit that there simply was not enough funding available to complete the project. This shortfall appears to have been caused largely by unforeseen groundwork required early in the construction process and the rising cost of building materials between the grant being awarded and the work being undertaken.
“It is disappointing for everyone involved that the project remains unfinished. However, the audit indicates that those involved made genuine efforts to deliver the improvements with the funding available. The board members were volunteers who gave considerable time and energy in an attempt to improve Badgers Hill for the benefit of the community.
“We hope that the publication of this report helps bring clarity after what has been a difficult period. There are no remaining grant funds available to complete the works, which is why we are now exploring options to secure the investment Badgers Hill needs for the future. It is time for everyone to move forward and focus on the next chapter.”
View the audit at https://tinyurl.com/ftcbs-audit-2026
