Audit
Lawyers to probe ejection of councillors
Harborough DC’s interim chief executive has asked lawyers to review whether the council followed its own constitution correctly when ejecting councillors from the public gallery.
Liverpool finances still at risk, say auditors
The financial stability of Liverpool City Council is still a risk, according to an interim report from auditors Grant Thornton.
EXCLUSIVE: Employers warn against local pay deals
Councils have been warned against undermining the ‘fundamental integrity’ of national talks by agreeing local deals as pressure grows on pay.
Council beset by ‘deep rooted cultural issues’
A local authority has been threatened with statutory recommendations by its external auditor.
Risky business
Amid growing concern over risky investments, ministers are introducing new powers to intervene in council finances. Heather Jameson looks at the triggers.
Finance directors unhappy with audit delay communication
Almost six out of 10 finance directors believe delays to 2020-21 audits were not communicated in a timely fashion, putting pandemic-hit processes under further strain, a new survey has found.
Council records 200 procurement breaches
‘Urgent’ action is required after Bristol City Council broke procurement rules more than 200 times last year, auditors have said.
Auditor raises concerns over council’s commercial investments
An auditor has raised concerns over the long-term future of Warrington Council’s commercial investments.
Getting both sides of the story.
Clive Power looks at what is going wrong with the interaction between local authorities and the media and proposes some ways to make improvements.
Examining internal audit's vital role
A new report from CIPFA makes the case for effective and impactful internal audit in the UK public sector and has found that although there are areas where it is working well, there is scope for improvement, says Rob Whiteman.
Welsh auditors: NHS waiting lists could take seven years to clear
It could be seven years before Wales sees its NHS waiting lists come back down to pre-pandemic levels, Welsh Auditors have claimed.
New regulator to bring ‘greater transparency’ to council finances announced
The Government today confirmed plans to establish a new regulator aimed at increasing the level of transparency in local authority finance systems.
‘Significant weaknesses’ found by Birmingham audit
A report has revealed ‘significant weaknesses’ in services and a ‘lack of stable leadership’ at Birmingham City Council.
'Serious breakdown' in senior relationships, report reveals
A scathing review of executive cultures at Thanet DC has concluded that relationships between senior figures have been dysfunctional – at huge cost to local taxpayers.
Extending audit deadline will 'distract finance teams'
Extending the deadline for publishing audited local authority accounts to the end of September for six years will ‘distract councils’ finance teams,’ the Government has been warned.
Council leaders warn of post-Brexit shortage of professional regulators
Local authority leaders have urged the Government to do more to train staff to work in the regulatory system due to an increase in post-Brexit challenges.
Investigation into 'errors' that cost Liverpool £4.5m
An investigation has been launched into ‘control failures and errors’ that cost Liverpool City Council millions of pounds.
Council held decade-long contract with dormant firm
Grant Thornton said it exposed a ‘significant weakness’ in Herefordshire Council’s contract management in its report on the council’s 2020-21 accounts.
Nottingham expected to bring housing back under direct control after probes
Nottingham City Council is expected to bring its housing back under direct control after two independent probes found ‘underlying issues around governance and finance’.
EXCLUSIVE: Council sacked director over 'vexatious and malicious' police report
Thanet DC sacked its director of corporate governance and monitoring officer after he submitted ‘vexatious and malicious’ allegations about a senior colleague to the police, The MJ can reveal.