Audit Commission don't support transparency code for small parish councils

The Audit Commission is working alongside its sponsor Departments and other key stakeholders to help design a new regime for local public audit, that will be robust and sustainable, following the closure of the Audit Commission as outlined in the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

The Audit Commission was pleased to respond to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consultation on the draft Transparency Code for parish councils with a turnover not exceeding £25,000.

In our answers to the questions in the consultation document, we said:

• The Audit Commission supports the goals of transparency and proportionate accountability arrangements. However the Transparency Code, as drafted, will not adequately deliver these goals.
•  The Transparency Code will not be an effective substitute for external audit. Furthermore it will increase rather than reduce the burden on councils covered by it.
•  A truly proportionate approach to accountability for councils spending less than £25,000 would use existing mechanisms like Freedom of Information.

 
The Audit Commission response can be found here