Recommendation 56

We support the Government’s moves to clear the local audit backlog and get the local audit system functioning, including the creation of the Local Audit Office and amendments to the Code of Accounting Practice, noting that these are in line with recommendations made by the predecessor Committee in its report on Financial Reporting and Audit in Local Authorities. However, without reforms to the audit requirements, significant resources are still spent to comply with requirements that were written for the private sector and that do not apply to public sector bodies like local authorities. (Conclusion, Paragraph 215) 81