Audit
Public audit will soon need a spring clean
John Tizard and David Walker make the case for a new way of auditing how public money is spent that uses evidence before spending decisions are made - and includes a new office of the '3Es' (efficiency, effectiveness and equity).
Planning system ‘underperforming’
The Government’s planning system is ‘underperforming’ and struggling to deliver on its aim of building 300,000 homes a year, auditors have found.
NHS sustainability 'very difficult' without a long-term social care settlement
A series of significant National Audit Office reports on local services have emerged so far this year - and it is the most recent one on NHS financial sustainability that might have the greatest impact on local government, says Abdool Kara
Northampton undervalued housing stock by £86m
Northampton BC undervalued its housing stock by £86.7m, contributing to a delay of more than a year in completing its accounts.
Big audit firms may quit market
Larger audit firms may quit the local government market in the long-term, an independent review has found.
LGA backs audit fee freeze despite pressure
Smith Square has backed holding external audit fees for local government at a lower level despite pressure for a price hike to improve quality.
Is Government penny wise, pound foolish?
As councils turn more towards commercialism, now is the right time to consider if the public audit model is fit for purpose, Rob Whiteman believes
Davies to take on top job at National Audit Office
Gareth Davies has been put forward for appointment as comptroller and auditor general at the National Audit Office (NAO), replacing Sir Amyas Morse.
Audit shake-up needed to prevent another Carillion, Government reports claim
A new financial regulator and a shake-up of the big four audit firms is needed to prevent another collapse on the scale of Carillion, two reports have found.
Squeezed Somerset reins in overspend
Under-pressure Somerset CC has reduced its projected overspend in 2018/19 from £3.2m to £2.4m, senior councillors will hear next week.
Transformation savings at risk
The transformation programme underpinning Surrey CC’s return to financial sustainability has ‘a medium to high risk of slippage,’ the troubled county’s auditors will warn councillors today.
Future Forum North: Whiteman rages at removing finance directors from top team
Council chief executives that demote the finance director role from the top team were being ‘too clever by half,’ Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy boss Rob Whiteman has said.
CIPFA caves in to pressure on traffic light index
Controversial plans to rate councils’ financial sustainability using traffic lights have been watered down by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
'Long way to go on integration' - audit
There is still a ‘long way to go’ to achieve integrated health and social care in Scotland, an audit report has found.
Auditor: Powys failing to improve
Embattled Powys CC is still failing to improve performance standards, an annual audit report has found.
Three-year wait for auditor sign off
Two councils have failed to have their annual accounts signed off by auditors for the third year in a row, a report has revealed.
EXCLUSIVE: LGA improvement cash could be slashed
Smith Square’s top-slice funding could be slashed under plans being considered by Whitehall over fears the sector-led improvement regime is not delivering good value.
MHCLG rejects performance call
Marsham Street has rejected MPs’ call to publish a regular breakdown of council performance across a range of services.
Council tax collection drops further
Council tax collection rates in England declined slightly in 2017/18, new data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has revealed.
Council misses accounts deadline - again
The wait for Reading Council’s 2016/17 accounts to be signed off is expected to stretch on for at least another month.