External Audits
On 13 August 2010, the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government announced his proposal to disband
the Audit Commission as part of a Government-wide review of
‘Arms-Length’ Bodies. The announcement stated that:
“a range of options will be
developed for converting the audit practice into a business
independent of Government which could be sold off or otherwise
transferred into the private sector”.
As a result of this announcement the Audit
Commission ceased their work on the Comprehensive Area Assessment
(CAA). However, the Code of Audit Practice (the Code) requires
appointed auditors to issue a conclusion on whether the audited
body has put in place proper arrangements to secure economy,
efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources. This is known
as the value for money (VFM) conclusion.
Harlow recieved an unqualified value for money conclusion
stating that the council had proper arrangements in place to
secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of
resources for the year ending 31 March 2011.
You can access the auditors report from this link - Annual
Audit Letter 2010/11