Consultation outcome

Local audit delays: Joint statement on update to proposals to clear the backlog and embed timely audit

Updated 9 September 2024

Applies to England

This consultation was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government.

Date published: 8 February 2024

Executive summary

Timely, high-quality financial reporting and audit of local bodies is a vital part of our democratic system. Not only does it support good decision making by local bodies, by enabling them to plan effectively, make informed decisions and manage their services, it ensures transparency and accountability to local taxpayers.

The backlog in the publication of audited accounts of local bodies in England has grown to an unacceptable level. The number of outstanding opinions peaked on 30 September 2023 at 918. As at 31 December 2023, the backlog of outstanding audit opinions stood at 771.

In July 2023, the Minister for Local Government published a Cross-System Statement to Parliament setting out proposals to tackle this backlog. Since then, organisations involved in the regulation and oversight of local body financial reporting and audit (“system partners”) have been working collectively to agree a proposed solution to clear the outstanding historical audit opinions and ensure that delays do not return. This new Joint Statement provides an update on the proposals. All system partners share the conviction that bold steps are necessary to reset the system and recognise the exceptional nature of the proposed measures.

To clear the backlog of historical accounts and ‘reset’ the system, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) proposes putting a date in law (the “backstop date”) – 30 September 2024 – by which point local bodies would publish audited accounts for all outstanding years up to and including 2022/23.

The National Audit Office (NAO) is proposing changes to the Code of Audit Practice to require local auditors to comply with backstop dates by giving their opinions in time for audited accounts to be published, and to allow them to provide a single commentary on value for money (VFM) arrangements for local bodies for all outstanding years up to and including 2022/23.

The duty for local bodies to publish a delay notice where the audit has not been concluded by the deadline will be withdrawn. This is because, with a backstop in place for both local bodies and auditors, authorities would be required to publish audited accounts by 30 September 2024. The introduction of a backstop date is intended to allow those who prepare and audit local body accounts to focus on more current financial periods.

The backstop date is likely to be a factor in local auditors issuing a modified or disclaimed opinion on outstanding accounts if they do not have enough time to complete all audit work before that date. It is important that local bodies, residents and other accounts users can distinguish between modified and disclaimed audit opinions caused by the introduction of backstop dates and those that indicate significant financial reporting or financial management issues.

Auditors have a responsibility under auditing standards to clearly communicate the reasons for their opinion within their report, including where the backstop date causes a modified or disclaimed opinion. System partners will consider guidance for auditors to remind them of these responsibilities. System partners will also issue communications that explain what the different types of modified opinions mean and that clarify that local bodies should not be unfairly judged based on modified opinions caused by the introduction of a backstop date that are largely beyond their control.

As was set out in the July Cross-System Statement, auditors’ statutory duty to report on value for money (VfM) arrangements and their statutory audit powers (including to make statutory recommendations or issue Public Interest Reports) are important for enabling identification of areas of concern at an early stage, allowing councils to address them.  These remain a high priority in our proposals.

For these measures to achieve their intended objectives, auditors and local bodies need to work together to ensure that as many audits can be completed in full as possible. Auditors should make prioritisation decisions within their portfolio of the audits of local bodies to limit the impact on other public bodies’ audits and ensure they complete the work required to conclude and report on whether there are any significant weaknesses in VFM arrangements. Preparers must ensure that any unaudited accounts from 2022/23 or earlier years, that have not been published, are published as soon as possible and respond to auditor requests in a timely manner.

The Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) Audit Quality Review (AQR) team will not carry out routine inspections of major local audits for financial years up to and including 2022/23, unless there is a clear case in the public interest to do so. Alongside this, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has committed to mirroring this approach for its inspections of non-major local audits.

To ensure that delays do not re-emerge once the backlog of local body audit opinions has been cleared and ‘recover’ the system, DLUHC proposes to put further backstop dates into law for the publication of audited accounts by local bodies. These would cover the 5-year audit appointments awarded in 2022 by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for financial years 2023/24 to 2027/28. As it is anticipated there would be modified and disclaimed opinions on outstanding accounts from the 30 September 2024 backstop date, this measure is designed to enable auditors to rebuild assurance over several audit cycles rather than in a single year, reducing the risk of the backlog re-emerging. This means there would also likely be modified or disclaimed audit opinions for several years.

To support the ‘recovery’ of the system, the CIPFA LASAAC Local Authority Code Board (CIPFA LASAAC) will consult on temporary changes to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting to reduce burdens on those who prepare and audit local body accounts. These proposed changes include extending overrides on infrastructure assets, simplifying the professional revaluation of operational property, and reducing disclosure requirements around net pension assets and liabilities for at least 2 years.

PSAA will use its fee variation process to determine the final fees local public bodies will have to pay in relation to delayed audits and 2023/24 audits. PSAA will set the scale fees for 2024/25 in accordance with the Local Audit (Appointing Person) Regulations 2015. The FRC and the NAO will support PSAA as it determines the fee impact of changes in audit requirements. It will also review relevant aspects of the contracts for the audits from 2023/24 to identify changes required to align with the changes proposed in the consultations.

All system partners have a shared resolve that the current situation needs addressing and measures of this nature are needed to achieve the shared priority of restoring timely, high-quality financial reporting and audit. Further work is required to address the systemic issues that have led to the unprecedented backlog. The issues facing local audit are widely recognised as multi-faceted and complex with no single cause or solution.

The development of these proposals has involved widespread engagement since summer 2023, especially with auditors and finance teams. To support the further development and testing of the measures, 2 consultations have been launched today, in partnership with the FRC, to receive further feedback and inform the decision on how to proceed:

• DLUHC is seeking views on changes to the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 to introduce backstop dates for the publication of audited accounts
• The NAO is seeking views on changes to the Code of Audit Practice to support auditors to meet backstop dates and promote more timely reporting of their work on value for money arrangements

CIPFA LASAAC will consult on temporary changes to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting for 2023/24 and 2024/25 to reduce burdens on the finance teams and auditors.

The ‘local bodies’ these proposals relate to include councils, but also other relevant authorities as defined under the Local Audit and Accountability Act (2014). It does not include NHS bodies.

Introduction

1. Local bodies need to have accurate and independently audited accounts, delivered on time, to help them effectively plan, make informed decisions and manage their services. Local residents, councillors, central government and other accounts users need timely audited accounts to understand what money the local body has received and how it has used its resources so they can hold it to account. This is key to transparent, trusted and accountable local democracy.

2. In July 2023, the Minister for Local Government published a Cross-System Statement setting out proposals to set a series of backstop dates to clear the backlog in local audit opinions in England and embed timely audit. The Statement included commitments by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the National Audit Office (NAO), the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA).

3. Since the publication of the Cross-System Statement, the Department has worked collaboratively with the FRC, as incoming shadow system leader, and the other system partners, to develop proposals to achieve the objectives. The proposals maintain auditor independence and enable compliance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)). The proposals consist of 3 stages:

• Phase 1: Reset involving clearing the backlog of historical audit opinions up to and including financial year 2022/23 by 30 September 2024
• Phase 2: Recovery from Phase 1 in a way that does not cause a recurrence of the backlog by using backstop dates to allow assurance to be rebuilt over multiple audit cycles
• Phase 3: Reform involving addressing systemic challenges in the local audit system and embedding timely financial reporting and audit

4. Financial reporting and audit frameworks were not designed for the current backlog in local audit. Although these proposals have been designed to minimise risks and unintended consequences, the proposed measures are likely to result in a significant number of local authority accounts receiving modified or disclaimed opinions, during both Phase 1 and Phase 2. The work required to resolve the local audit backlog will be challenging for both local body finance teams and auditors, as well as system partners.

Phase 1: Reset

5. In line with the Cross-System Statement in July 2023, Phase 1 involves using legislation and changes to the Code of Audit Practice to implement a backstop date for the publication of audited financial statements which are outstanding for all financial years up to and including 2022/23. The current duty, set out in legislation, for local bodies to publish a delay notice in instances where the audit has not been concluded ahead of the deadline, would be removed.

6. Local auditors would be required to issue an opinion based on the work they have been able to complete to enable local bodies to publish audited accounts ahead of the backstop dates. An audit opinion can be either unmodified, modified (qualified or adverse) or disclaimed.

7. Auditing standards allow auditors to issue modified or disclaimed opinions in the event of a statutory backstop date, even in cases where little to no substantive testing has been carried out. As set out in the Cross-System statement in July, the proposed backstop date is likely to result in modifications or disclaimers of the audit opinion. System partners will provide clear communications to the system explaining what the different types of opinions mean, including explaining that modified or disclaimed opinions caused by the backstop date do not necessarily indicate significant financial reporting or financial management issues in a local body.

8. The auditors’ statutory duty to report on VFM arrangements and their statutory audit powers (such as the power to make statutory recommendations or produce Public Interest Reports where necessary) are an important for identifying areas of concern at an early stage, allowing local bodies to address them. Under these proposals this will remain a high priority including during Phase 1.

9. The NAO consultation asks for views on changes to the Code of Audit Practice to enable auditors to produce a single commentary on VFM arrangements covering all outstanding periods up to 2022/23 and remind auditors of their obligations to use their statutory reporting powers to draw significant matters to the attention of bodies and residents in a timely way.

10. The proposed backstop date for Phase 1, as set out in DLUHC’s consultation on changes to the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, 30 September 2024. This has been designed to enable sufficient time for auditors to issue opinions, including modified or disclaimed opinions due to the backstop, and for bodies to publish accounts containing those audit opinions once the legislation has come into force.

11. The NAO’s consultation on changes to the Code and any subsequent laying of a new Code of Audit Practice in Parliament would support the backstop date. The proposed backstop date also recognises the multiple priorities of preparers and auditors. For example, finance teams need to, amongst other things, prepare budgets and medium-term financial plans, and for auditors, there will be pre-existing commitments to carry out other public sector audit work, including NHS external audit work, most of which will take place between April and June 2024.

12. The government will publish a list of local bodies and their auditors which do not meet the backstop date, making it clear where unaudited accounts have also not been published.

13. There will be no exemptions for auditors or local bodies except in very limited circumstances.  The NAO will consult on specific exemptions to auditors issuing their opinion ahead of the backstop date as part of its consultation on changes to the Code of Audit Practice. These include, for example, if the auditor is unable to issue their opinion where there are outstanding elector objections to the accounts that could be material to the opinion. DLUHC’s consultation also includes a question about creating an equivalent exemption for local bodies in this circumstance, as well as a question seeking views on any other exceptional circumstances in which   exemptions may be justifiable.

14. If auditors have completed the required work then they are able to issue their audit opinion ahead of the backstop date. Auditors are expected to complete as much audit work as possible ahead of the backstop date. The NAO, working closely with the FRC, will produce statutory guidance and any additional advice needed to ensure the reset works as intended.

Phase 2: Recovery

15. The July Cross-System Statement set out that recovering from modified and disclaimed audit opinions requires significant work for preparers and auditors. Following modified or disclaimed audit opinions, auditors will need to audit some of the opening balances in order to obtain assurance over the current year closing balances. Where the audit opinion is modified or disclaimed, the auditor does not have assurance over all historical figures that carry forward into the subsequent year. Opening balances can impact closing balances and movements in the current year. In some cases, where the auditor does not have assurance over opening balances, they would be unable to obtain assurance over the closing balances.

16. System partners committed to consider the secondary effects of the proposals, which may impact the audit of opening balances within the accounts for future years. Under these proposals and to maintain compliance with the ISAs (UK), auditors need to perform sufficient testing on opening balances to rebuild assurance that enables them to issue unmodified opinions in the future.

17. To prevent this recovery work causing delays to future audits, the proposals involve establishing new statutory backstop dates for all financial years up to and including 2027/28. These backstop dates would replace the existing deadlines in the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015. As at Phase 1, the current duty, set out in legislation, for local bodies to publish a delay notice in instances where the audit has not been concluded by the deadline, would be removed. The changes to the Code of Audit Practice in Phase 1 requiring auditors to discharge their statutory duties in relation to the financial statements audit in accordance with backstop dates would continue to apply in Phase 2.

18. These new backstop dates would enable auditors to rebuild assurance over local bodies’ financial information which has been subject to modified opinion over a longer period of several years. The default position without backstop dates would be that auditors need to rebuild all assurance in the first year following a modified or disclaimed opinion, creating an exceptional workload in this first year, which would risk a recurrence of the backlog. Instead, these proposals enable spreading the work to rebuild this assurance over multiple periods, and we welcome responses on local bodies’ and auditors’ capacity to manage this work. Backstop dates may result in additional modifications or disclaimers of the audit opinion for some bodies. Unmodified opinions cannot be issued until assurance has been sufficiently rebuilt for the auditor to conclude that the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement. This proposal draws on the findings of the recent Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee report on financial reporting and audit in local authorities.

19. The FRC has confirmed that rebuilding assurance over multiple periods is compliant with ISAs (UK).

20. Taken together with the proposal outlined in ‘Phase 1’ for a backstop date of 30 September 2024 for all years up to and including 2022/23, the government is now consulting on the following additional backstop dates:

• Year ended 31 March 2024: 31 May 2025
• Year ended 31 March 2025: 31 March 2026
• Year ended 31 March 2026: 31 January 2027
• Year ended 31 March 2027: 30 November 2027
• Year ended 31 March 2028: 30 November 2028

21. These dates are intended to achieve a balance between restoring timely audit and returning to unmodified audit opinions for the majority of local bodies. They have also been designed, to the extent possible, to limit the impact on other public sector audits, including NHS audits.

22. As has been set out, returning to full and timely reporting on VFM arrangements is a priority. Whilst Phase 1 enables the auditor to incorporate outstanding VFM arrangements reporting for historical years into a single output under a reduced scope, proposals for Phase 2 involve the restoration of full scope VFM arrangements by 2023/24. In addition, it is proposed that the Code of Audit Practice will set a requirement that from 2023/24 the Auditors’ Annual Report will be issued in draft to those charged with governance by 30 November each year, irrespective of the position on the audit, to enable auditors to report regularly on most of the VFM arrangements work in a more timely and predicable way.

23. To reduce burdens on preparers and support auditors spreading the work to rebuild assurance over multiple periods CIPFA LASAAC will consult on 3 temporary changes to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting for 2023/24 and 2024/25:

• extending the override relating to the valuation and disclosure requirements for infrastructure assets

• simplifying the revaluation of operational property and instead permitting the use of indexation until new requirements for revaluation of operational property are introduced in 2025/26 following HM Treasury’s thematic review of the valuation of non-investments assets in the public sector

• reducing the requirements for disclosures around net defined benefit pension liabilities / assets for 2 years to align with those in FRS 102 (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) rather than International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

24. The current deadline for local bodies (other than NHS bodies) for the publication of unaudited accounts is 31 May following the financial year end. This means the 2024/25 unaudited accounts deadline is set to be the same date as the backstop date for 2023/24 audited accounts. The government’s consultation includes questions asking for views over whether this will create any significant issues and for views on the 31 May deadline for 2024/25 to 2027/28.

Consultations to deliver Phase 1 and Phase 2

25. There will be 3 consultations to implement the Phase 1 and Phase 2 measures set out:

• DLUHC is seeking views on changes to the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 to introduce backstop dates for the publication of audited accounts
• The NAO is seeking views on changes to the Code of Audit Practice to support auditors to meet backstop dates and promote more timely reporting of their work on value for money arrangements
• CIPFA LASAAC will consult on temporary changes to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting for 2023/24 and 2024/25 to reduce burdens on the finance teams and auditors

Commitments by the FRC to support delivery of Phase 1 and Phase 2

26. All system partners recognise that the exceptional nature of the proposed measures means there will need to be an extensive programme of communications and engagement with local bodies, auditors and wider system stakeholders including elected members.

27. The FRC will support the NAO and CIPFA to issue guidance for preparers and auditors. The guidance for auditors will be designed to support audit firms with implementing the proposed approach to Phase 1 and Phase 2 in a way that is compliant with the ISAs (UK) and the Code of Audit Practice whilst supporting the overall objectives of the reset and recovery.

28. It is important that local bodies, residents and other accounts users can distinguish between modified and disclaimed audit opinions caused by the introduction of backstop dates and those that indicate significant financial reporting or financial management issues. Guidance for auditors will remind auditors of their responsibilities to communicate the reasons for a modified or disclaimed opinion in reports to audit committees and in the auditor’s report. This includes indicating clearly where the modified or disclaimed opinion occurs because the auditor has not completed work ahead of the backstop date.

29. We expect audit committees and other stakeholders to take this into account and ensure that their decisions and judgements are cognisant of where modified or disclaimed opinions are a result of the introduction of backstop dates.

30. The FRC will also hold an exceptional local audit specific meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). TAG normally takes place every 2 months to consider the application of ISAs (UK), ethical and quality management standards. TAG provides a forum for firms to raise technical issues with the application of standards as well as a means for the FRC to informally consult on standards and guidance that it might issue. The purpose of the local audit specific TAG would be for the FRC to respond to queries from firms in applying the ISAs (UK) in light of the backstop dates as well as any technical guidance issued by the NAO or the FRC. It will also provide an opportunity for firms to discuss best practice and practical matters of implementation in a forum convened by the FRC. The FRC will invite all firms involved in local audit, and representatives from system partners, to this special TAG meeting.

31. In line with the July Cross-System Statement, the FRC’s AQR team has recently set out changes to its regulatory approach as part of its report on the quality of major local audits. This sets out that AQR will not carry out routine inspections of major local audits for financial years up to and including 2022/23, unless there is a clear case in the public interest to do so. AQR will provide further details on its planned approach to individual inspections for 2023/24 onwards, once the proposed measures are finalised. ICAEW has committed to mirroring the FRC’s approach for its inspections of non-major local audits.

32. Working with DLUHC, the FRC is developing an escalated reporting framework. The intention is for the framework to be fully operational for 2023/24 audits so local authorities and auditors can use it to raise risks to individual audits meeting backstop dates and / or emerging systemic issues ahead of backstop dates to enable them and system partners to take appropriate action as early as possible. The framework is being designed to enable a coordinated response where there are more significant risks and complexities facing entities and ensure that system wide issues are identified as soon as possible so they can be addressed. We will provide further details on the proposed framework by the point the legislation on the backstop dates is in place.

33. The FRC intends to conclude its Audit and Assurance Sandbox on the approach to materiality on local audits in the first quarter of 2024 and will publish the findings. The Sandbox has brought together groups of auditors, practitioners, regulatory bodies and interested parties to explore potential pathways whereby auditors could set differential materiality levels for balance sheet items, such as operational property, from overall account materiality set based on expenditure.

Commitments by ICAEW

34. ICAEW has committed to mirroring the FRC AQR’s approach for its inspections of non-major local audits.

Commitments by PSAA

35. PSAA will set scale fees and determine fee variations where the auditor undertakes more or less work than assumed by the scale fee in line with the Local Audit (Appointing Person) Regulations 2015. It will also consult with bodies where appropriate. Where possible (subject to sufficient satisfactory data and information from key parties), PSAA will develop indicative fee ranges and assumptions for areas where there is expected to be a change in the audit work carried out.

36. When PSAA subsequently determines the fees payable, the principles set out in the Cross System Statement will apply: if auditors have worked in good faith to meet the requirements of the Code of Audit Practice in place at the time the work was conducted (and have reported on work that is no longer required), then they are due the appropriate fee for the work done, and the body is due to pay the applicable fee, including where there is a modified or disclaimed opinion. Conversely, if an auditor has collected audit fees in part or in full, and the backstop date means that the total work done represents less than the fee already collected, then the auditor must return the balance and refund the body the appropriate amount – this ensures that the bodies pay only for work that has been done and reported.

Expectations of auditors and local bodies to deliver Phase 1 and Phase 2

37. If implemented, all system partners believe Phase 1 and Phase 2 taken together will result in an overall significant reduction in work compared to the option of not introducing backstop dates. Nevertheless, the success of these proposals depends on both auditors and audited bodies focusing on their obligations in the public interest for timely, high-quality financial reporting and audit.

38. During the consultation period, any local body with concerns about specific financial risk resulting from the proposals should discuss this with their auditors and engage with DLUHC or the relevant parent Department at the earliest opportunity. This may include, but is not limited to, bodies with covenants that require audited accounts with unmodified audit opinions. Any auditors with specific technical, practical, or ethical concerns should flag these with the FRC as soon as possible.

39. Any slowdown in activity would lead to further issues in the future. Ahead of the first proposed backstop date, auditors and local bodies should work together to ensure that as many audits can be completed in full as possible. Where work has already been completed to provide sufficient evidence to support the audit opinion, preparers and auditors should work together to publish the audited accounts as soon as possible.

40. The potential introduction of backstop dates does not preclude the legal responsibilities for local bodies to publish unaudited accounts and hold the 30-working day inspection period for local electors. Any local body that has not yet published unaudited accounts for all years up to and including the financial year 2022/2023, or held the inspection period, should do so as soon as possible.

41. Where a local body believes they will not be able to provide draft accounts, which have been subject to the 30-working day inspection period, to the auditor, with sufficient time ahead of the backstop date, they should, following engagement with their auditors, flag this with DLUHC or the relevant sponsor department as soon as possible. Auditors are only able to provide an opinion – whether unmodified, modified or disclaimed – on a set of accounts which have been certified by the Section 151 Officer as true and fair, subject to the 30-day inspection period and approved as final by those charged with governance.

42. It should not be necessary for the audit of the previous year’s accounts for Section 151 Officers to comply with their responsibilities to certify that the unaudited accounts show a true and fair view as local bodies should have sufficient internal controls and processes for the Section 151 Officer to obtain this assurance.

43. In consultation with local bodies and those charged with governance, auditors will need to make prioritisation decisions about the work they complete on local bodies’ audits. When making such prioritisation decisions, auditors should consider the impact on other local bodies’ audits. For example, they may choose to prioritise conducting sufficient audit work on pension funds to provide IAS 19 assurances to auditors of other local bodies. Finance teams should ensure they provide high-quality evidence requested by auditors in a timely manner.

44. Where an auditor has not obtained sufficient audit evidence to conclude they have reasonable assurance that the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, they will need to modify or disclaim their audit opinion, as required by the ISAs (UK). Auditors are reminded of their existing responsibilities to clearly communicate the reasons for modified or disclaimed opinions in the auditor’s report. They should explain in reports to the audit committee if the modified opinion is caused by the introduction of statutory backstop dates and to communicate what work they have been able to carry out.

45. Auditors should also keep in mind that the July Cross-System Statement stated that the auditors’ statutory duty to report on VFM arrangements and their wider reporting powers remain a high priority. Auditors will need to ensure that they are able to conclude and report significant weaknesses in VFM arrangements in the audit report ahead of the backstop date as this legal duty cannot be disclaimed. For audits undertaken under the 2015 Code of Audit Practice, covering years up to 2019/20, auditors will need to report their conclusion on VFM arrangements as part of the auditor’s report. Where auditors have concerns about a local body’s ability to prepare accounts of sufficient quality ahead of the backstop date, they should consider using their wider reporting powers.

46. The government recognises that all audit firms conduct a variety of public sector audit work in addition to local audit. Local auditors should plan and commit to deliver work ahead of the backstop dates that allows for their existing contractual commitments for other public sector audits. Apart from in exceptional circumstances, NHS England will not accept requests for extensions to audit deadlines for NHS bodies because of auditors needing to complete work ahead of backstop dates for non-NHS local audited accounts.

Phase 3: Reform

47. Further, longer term work is required to address the systemic challenges that have led to the current local audit backlog. All parties to the Cross-System Statement have committed to continue work to ensure that financial reporting, auditing and regulatory requirements are proportionate and based on a common understanding of the purposes of local audit and reporting.

48. This work will build on the recommendations of the Redmond Review, the recent Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee report into financial reporting and audit in local authorities and Public Accounts Committee reports on the timeliness of local audit. The government remains committed to establishing the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority as system leader for local audit when Parliamentary time allows.

49. CIPFA LASAAC’s strategic plan includes a workstream looking at long-term reforms to financial reporting based on the needs of accounts users. CIPFA are in the process of relaunching the Better Reporting Group to inform this work.

50. HM Treasury will be setting out in the first quarter of 2024 the outcome of the thematic review into the valuation of non-investment assets. CIPFA will continue to work with HM Treasury on how the changes apply to local bodies with the intention that they are introduced to the Code of Practice for Local Authority Accounting for 2025/26.

51. The FRC intends to publish its Local Audit Workforce Strategy during 2024, following a presentation to the Local Audit Liaison Committee. The Strategy will include both short-term and longer-term recommendations to increase the supply of suitably skilled auditors, including for further changes to Key Audit Partner requirements.

52. Closely linked to the Local Audit Workforce Strategy, the government has successfully procured the development of a Local Audit Qualification which will shortly be launched by CIPFA, opening the training route for experienced Responsible Individuals to become Key Audit Partners. In addition, CIPFA and the Local Government Association (LGA) are working on a parallel Workforce Strategy for local government finance teams.

Conclusion

53. The measures proposed are an important step in restoring timely financial reporting and audit for local bodies. The government is grateful for the hard work and collaboration of system partners in developing these ambitious measures. All system partners are committed to continue to work closely together to, following the consultation, implement measures to clear the backlog of local audit opinions and develop the long-term reforms required to prevent a backlog arising in the future.