Consultation launched on Local Audit Reform

Following the publication of the Government’s English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024, an open consultation was then launched by Government setting out proposals for overhauling the local audit system in England. The consultation is called Local audit reform: a strategy for overhauling the local audit system in England and closes for responses on 29 January 2025. The consultation sets out a strategy which commits a series of measures to improve the local audit system and asks respondents to comment on proposals within the strategy. Specifically mentioned at paragraph 77 in the consultation document is a proposal relating to decoupling the pension fund accounts from the main accounts of the administering authority, which has been recommended by the Board for some time and the Board Secretary has recently written to Local Government Minister Jim McMahon MP to reconfirm the Board’s position on the issue. The Board welcomes the Government’s commitment set out in this proposal and will be considering how best to respond to the consultation.