Audit has been a hot topic of debate this year and local audit is no exception. With a review into the quality of local audit now ongoing, it’s critical that part of this work looks at the overarching governance and management of the audit regime. We believe there is a strong need for new oversight arrangements if the local audit regime is to remain sustainable and effective in the future.

Local (local authority and NHS) audit has been a key part of the oversight regime for public services for more than a century. The National Audit Office (NAO) has exercised this role in central government for several generations and their reporting to Parliament via the Public Accounts Committee is a key part of the public spending accountability framework.