Audit
Minister ‘minded’ to intervene at Sandwell Council
The Government is considering sending in commissions into Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council due to its failure to ‘resolve a variety of governance issues.’
Liverpool auditor seeks corruption investigation
Calls have been made for further investigations into the extent of alleged bribery and corruption at Liverpool City Council.
Auditor finds 'governance breakdown' over chief's payoff
Pembrokeshire CC must ‘regain public trust’ after Wales’ auditor general detailed a ‘serious breakdown in governance’ over the payoff to former chief executive Ian Westley.
Challenging financial future for Northern Irish councils
Northern Ireland’s financial watchdog has warned of challenging years ahead for the region’s councils.
Watchdog calls for regional partnership boards to improve accountability
The accountability of regional partnership boards (RPBs) should be improved, according to Audit Wales.
Local audit’s perfect storm
The chair of the Public Accounts Committee has suggested the volume of late audits means Whitehall is ‘flying blind’ on council finances. Will the situation improve any time soon and how concerned is the sector? Naomi Larsson reports.
Statutory recommendation threat dropped
Warrington Council has escaped the threat of a statutory recommendation being issued by its external auditor Grant Thornton.
Government can’t keep ‘flying blind’ on council finances
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is 'licking its fingers and sticking them in the air in an attempt to test the temperature of local authority funding', says Heather Jameson.
Government hauls in auditors after 'flying blind' accusation
Ministers have today convened an emergency meeting with local government audit firms amid fears Whitehall is ‘flying blind’ over council finances.
Croydon could face second public interest report
Grant Thornton has been looking into the redevelopment of the Fairfield Halls arts centre by the council-owned firm Brick by Brick.
Slough goes back to basics for financial health
There are no quick fixes to Slough’s financial problems, but the council is committed to achieving the improvements residents have every right to expect, says Steve Mair.
MPs quiz Homes England on governance issues
An internal audit that found ‘significant weakness in frameworks of governance’ was raised during questions from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.
Doubt over future of 75% rates retention under Gove
New local government secretary Michael Gove has indicated that 75% business rates retention could be a casualty of levelling up plans.
Government tight-lipped on Thanet response
The Government has refused to disclose how it is responding to long-standing issues at Thanet DC following a request to intervene from its leader.
Concerns raised over Liverpool audit delay
The leader of Liverpool City Council's Lib Dem group, Richard Kemp, has written to the new chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales raising concerns over the council’s auditors.
Top mandarin admits state of audit 'deeply concerning'
Permanent secretary Jeremy Pocklington said there was no ‘magic bullet’ to rectify the sector's issues.
Regulator 'disappointed' at timeliness of local government auditor reporting
Half of the local government audits chosen for review by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) had to be replaced as they were not finalised and signed on time.
South Ayrshire Council’s slow transformation ‘frustrating’, auditors say
South Ayrshire Council’s services perform well but the council has been slow at making necessary changes to the way it delivers these services, auditors say.
LGA: External audit firms need to address their shortcomings
Town hall leaders have said external audit firms ‘need to address their shortcomings’ to improve the timeliness of audits.
Willis to leave troubled Thanet
Troubled Thanet DC has struck a deal that will lead to the departure of its deputy chief executive and Section 151 officer Tim Willis.
