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Local Audit Backlog written ministerial statement – LGA response
“We have been pressing for a pragmatic solution to the backlog in local audit so today’s announcement is positive. We are also pleased the Government has acted on our calls for backstop dates to avoid pre-election periods.
Responding to the written ministerial statement on Local Audit Backlog, Cllr Pete Marland, Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board, said:
“We have been pressing for a pragmatic solution to the backlog in local audit so today’s announcement is positive. We are also pleased the Government has acted on our calls for backstop dates to avoid pre-election periods.
“It is also positive that the Government has acknowledged that the proposals should not lead to reputational damage for councils as a result of a problem that is not of their making, and that they would like to work with partners to make sure this does not happen.
“We are pleased that the Government has committed to overhauling local audit in the longer term. There is an urgent need to restore confidence in the local audit arrangements, restore timely audits permanently, and improve financial reporting. This needs to be progressed, with strong involvement from the local government sector.”