Draft Local Audit Bill

Draft legislation intended to deliver a more efficient and transparent local audit system may not save money, potentially undermines the integrity of the audit system and may fail to deliver accountability. The principle of independent audit - which has guided public sector audit for the last 150 years - could be undermined if the bill is not amended. Most witnesses criticised the proposed independent auditor panels and felt that they imposed an unnecessary additional bureaucratic burden. They expressed strong support for the retention of a central procurement capacity for appointing auditors to local bodies in order to deliver best value on audit fees. The legislation also has some gaping holes that pose significant risks. Unless stronger safeguards are put into the legislation, whistleblowers might not be able to draw attention to serious failures in local governance. The Comptroller & Auditor General of the National Audit Office should be named in the Bill alongside the appointed auditor, as another prescribed person who may be contacted by any whistleblower. It should also have a duty to publish detailed mandatory guidance to accompany the code and to report annually to Parliament on the Code's effectiveness. Lastly, there is great concern that the draft Bill makes no provision for comprehensive like for like value for money comparisons which would enable informed judgements about the way local bodies spend taxpayer's money. It is essential that the Bill is re-drafted to include a systematic process for benchmarking and like-for-like comparisons between public bodies in the new regime.