Press release: Local government audit opinion data

Auditors have reported issuing 183 unmodified opinions, and 231 disclaimed (188) or qualified (43) opinions due to the 27 February 2026 backstop, for the 2024/25 audits of accounts covered by PSAA’s appointing person scheme. There are a further 36 opinions that remain outstanding.

There were also 7 modified opinions that auditors have not attributed to the backstop, including 2 disclaimed opinions.

The table below summarises the audit opinions issued for the 2024/25 audits as at the February 2026 backstop date. The first two columns of the table present the opinions delivered for the 2023/24 audits as at the 28 February 2025 backstop, alongside the updated position as at 27 February 2026.

*Data excludes pension fund audits

**These cover modifications and additional disclosures in the auditor’s report (Definitions of audit opinions)

***One additional body was added to the 2023/24 list after the statutory opinion date

There are also 16 opinions at 6 local bodies that are not yet delivered for the years 2018/19 to 2022/23 (excluding pension fund audits). This includes 11 opinions at 4 local bodies that are exempt from the statutory deadline.