District councils have called for a ‘more robust procurement process' as an increasing number of auditors shift away from their tendered prices.

In an email to section 151 officers, Tony Crawley, chief executive of Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA), the organisation responsible for appointing council auditors, warned it was ‘already clear' that proposed fee increases for 2018/19 were likely to be higher than the usual 5%.