External news

MHCLG has amended the Regulations on the Major Local Audit threshold as part of their wider local audit reform strategy – The Local Audit (Major Local Audit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

The FRC provided an update on how they will support the local audit system following the government’s local audit reform announcement last year. The FRC will not perform routine inspections of local government major local audits (MLAs) for audits up to 31 March 2025, unless there is a clear case in the public interest to […]

MHCLG has published a list in relation to compliance with the 28 February 2023/24 backstop. The list includes bodies yet to publish all audited accounts for financial years up to and including 2023/24 as of 20 May 2025. The government has contacted all bodies and their auditors included on the list to inform them of […]

The NAO has published its Local Audit Reset and Recovery Implementation Guidance (LARRIG) 06. This relates to special considerations for rebuilding assurance for specified balances following backstop-related disclaimed audit opinions. The LARRIGs are intended to support the reset and recovery of local audit in England and will be in place for a limited period.

The FRC has published its study into the audit market for NHS providers and Integrated Care Boards. The report supports the government’s reform of the wider local audit system.

MHCLG issued a press release on 9 April announcing 16 new commitments for local audit reform following its open consultation, including simplifying financial reporting requirements and increasing capacity to avoid reliance on a small number of auditors. The reforms are backed by £49 million to help bodies clear their backlogs and restore audit assurance. The […]

The FRC has published its Strategy for 2025-28 and its Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2025-26. This is the first three-year strategy delivered by the regulator since 2023.

MHCLG has today published two lists in relation to compliance with the 13 December 2024 backstop. The list includes bodies yet to publish all audited accounts for financial years up to and including 2022/23 as of 19 February 2025, and bodies that had not published one or more audited accounts by 13 December 2024 but […]

CIPFA has issued its new Advisory Note Five: Statement of Responsibilities. The advisory notes offer guidance for local government Chief Finance Officers to declare their annual accounts are true and fair.

On 12 February the local audit system leadership responsibilities transferred from the FRC back to MHCLG. This transfer follows the launch in December 2024 of the Government’s strategy for overhauling the local audit system in England, including a commitment to establish a Local Audit Office.