A senior Local Government Association (LGA) figure has warned ministers' ‘unnecessary and unhelpful' new watchdog Oflog risks a return to the days of the Audit Commission.

LGA vice-chair Marianne Overton, who currently heads up the association's independent group, was one of a number of political leaders who has attended recent Whitehall meetings on Oflog, which is to be chaired by former auditor general Lord Morse.