AUDIT

Local audit reform: a strategy for overhauling the local audit system in England [England]

This strategy commits to a series of measures to fix the broken local audit system, including:

A local audit vision with eight core principles.

The establishment of a statutory and independent Local Audit Office (LAO), with five strategic responsibilities - coordinating the system, contract management, ownership of the Code of Audit Practice, quality oversight and reporting.

Mandating audit committees.

The government is also consulting on a number of specific proposals as part of this strategy, including:

Potential additional functions of the new LAO.

Simplifying financial reporting requirements to ensure they are proportionate.

Improvements to enhance capacity and capability in the local audit sector, such as the introduction of public provision.

Strengthening the relationship between local bodies and their auditor.

Reforming the audit regime.

The paper is found at Local audit reform: a strategy for overhauling the local audit system in England - GOV.UK.

Closing date for responses is 29 January 2025.

CARE EXPERIENCE

Developing a universal definition of 'care experience': consultation [Scotland]

The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the need for a universal definition of ‘care experience’ and what the potential impacts of this could be. In response to its commitment to keep The Promise, The Scottish Government Keeping the Promise Implementation Plan set out the cross-Government actions and policies that will be taken to bring about the transformational change required to keep the Promise by 2030.  This includes a commitment to work with partners across Scotland, including The Promise Scotland, to develop a universal and inclusive definition of ‘care experience’ so that more people can understand and identify with it. 

The consultation paper can be found at: