Audit
Stalemate over audit timeliness
The organisation responsible for appointing local government auditors has admitted it can do little to improve the timeliness of opinions.
Warrington opposition demands to see auditors' letter
Opposition members on Warrington Council are demanding to see an auditor’s letter sent 15 months ago which they claim sets out concerns about the authority’s financial position and investment strategy.
Welsh councils must provide ‘ambitious leadership’ to revive high street
Local authorities in Wales have been urged to use their existing powers and resources to make town centres sustainable.
Survey reveals interest in PSAA scheme
Public Sector Audit Appointments has a battle on to maintain the number of organisations signed up to its national auditor appointment scheme.
Government sets out method for £15m audit funding
The Government is to pay out £15m to public bodies to help pay rising audit fees, following the completion of its consultation.
Review launched into chief's departure
Pembrokeshire CC’s interim boss has commissioned an independent review into the ‘severance arrangements’ linked to the departure of former chief executive Ian Westley.
Liverpool's accounts delayed by police investigation
Liverpool City Council auditors have warned they will not be able to sign off the council’s accounts until police fraud investigations are complete.
Local government audit close to 'breaking point'
The timeliness and quality of auditing local government spending is undermining accountability and effective spending decisions, a watchdog has warned today.
Telling the whole place story
A Fabian pamphlet calls on Labour to commit to a new Place Audit Office (PAO) within the National Audit Office. John Tizard and David Walker explain
EXCLUSIVE: Councils push back over reserves raid threat
Council chiefs have pushed back as the Treasury eyes up the sector’s reserves in the run up to this year’s Spending Review, The MJ understands.
Half may miss September audit deadline
A top auditor has predicted that as many as half of councils may miss this year’s September 30 audit deadline.
Slough’s services put children first
In April, Slough’s independent children’s services trust became wholly owned by the council. Josie Wragg and Tony Hunter talk to Ann McGauran about their rapport and shared vision despite the local authority’s hugely challenging financial position.
Section 114 chief: We will not be the last
Slough Council’s chief executive this week urged other sector bosses to ‘trust your intuition’ to avoid their local authority following in her Section 114 footsteps.
Council chief tells staff of ‘bleak’ financial picture
Slough Council’s chief executive Josie Wragg has warned the council faces a ‘bleak’ financial situation in a video message sent to employees.
‘Serious concerns’ over finances at Peterborough
An external auditor has said Peterborough City Council’s finances are among the most concerning he is overseeing.
Scottish council told to improve housing and education services
Aberdeen City Council has been warned to improve its housing and education services by the public spending watchdog.
Where did it all go wrong on audit?
Lorna Baxter says we need to be able to show taxpayers how we have spent their money and that provided by Government. 'But do our residents need to understand the fair value of financial instruments and what category they are?'
Audit firms to be wooed
Audit appointment chiefs have launched a bid to attract more firms to the local government market from April 2023.
Councils are owed certainty on funding
The Public Accounts Committee has published its fifth annual report. Chair Meg Hillier says there is much for local government to be concerned about and ‘even the best councils face real struggles ahead’.
Hillier in financial sustainability transparency warning
The chair of an influential government spending watchdog has warned of a lack of transparency around the financial sustainability of councils.
