Press releases and statements
This section contains the Audit Commission’s press releases and statements since April 2012. Earlier information is available on the National Archive website (external link).
Audit firms PKF (UK) LLP and BDO LLP to merge
The partners of PKF (UK) LLP and BDO LLP have agreed a merger of the two firms, which will take effect on 28 March 2013. PKF currently has a contract with the Audit Commission to supply audit and related services until the end of the 2016/17 financial year in the Eastern and South East areas.
2013 electronic annual returns (eAR)
Electronic annual return forms for the year ended 31 March 2013 are now available. The forms are for use by local councils (parish and town councils and parish meetings) and internal drainage boards in England. Other small local public bodies in England preparing accounts subject to Audit Commission limited assurance audit may also use the eAR.
New Commissioners appointed to the Board
I am delighted to confirm that the Department for Communities and Local Government has appointed four new Commissioners to the Audit Commission’s Board: Councillor Adrian Collett; Nicola Scrivings; Andrea Sutcliffe; and Ruth Thompson.
Local public bodies improve financial reporting and accountability
England’s councils, fire and rescue authorities, police bodies, and other local government bodies, improved the quality and timeliness of their financial reporting in 2011/12. This is a key finding of the Audit Commission’s annual report on the stewardship of taxpayers’ …
Call for greater clarity on councils’ reserves
‘Striking a balance‘, an Audit Commission report, encourages English councils to focus more attention on the £12.9 billion set aside in their reserves – the equivalent of nearly a third of their net spending on services in 2011/12. While the …