The government has published its response to the independent review into the effectiveness of local audit which was carried out by Sir Tony Redmond earlier this year.

The review, launched in July 2019, examined whether the reporting regimes are robust enough to spot early warning signs, such as risks from commercial investments, to protect public funds and better serve taxpayers.

The response sets out how we will implement many of the recommendations made by Sir Tony Redmond, including swift action to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of the local audit system and improvements to make financial information more transparent.

In particular, councils will be required to produce an easily accessible statement of their accounts which will make it easier for taxpayers and service users to hold them to account.

An additional £15 million will be provided in 2021-22 to support councils fund the likely increase in audit fees and to produce these annual statements.

Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said:

It is vital that there is a robust audit system in place across local government to deliver value for money, accountability and transparency for the taxpayer. We’ve seen in Croydon and Nottingham the consequences when that isn’t the case.

I would like to thank Sir Tony Redmond for his thorough review. It is an important step towards strengthening the local audit regime, and I have announced additional funding today to ensure we can now begin implementing his recommendations.

The government response sets out a number of measures. These include:

• Temporarily extending the deadline to 30 September for the publication of local authorities’ audited accounts to give them more time to address any issues
• Making it easier for PSAA, councils and audit firms to agree appropriate fee scales to meet the cost of additional audit work, and
• Working with partner organisations such as CIPFA, the ICAEW and the FRC to improve the long-term supply of well-trained local auditors
• Requiring councils to produce an easily accessible annual statement of their service costs.
• Requiring auditors to present their findings  to a Full Council meeting every year, helping councillors and residents better hold councils to account.

A call for evidence was opened last year seeking views from practitioners who work in the local government sector, the audit community, representative bodies and other relevant or interested parties.

Councils in England are responsible for 22% of total UK public sector expenditure.

The responsibilities for local authority audits and how they are conducted is set out within the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

The 2014 Act gave effect to government manifesto commitments to abolish the Audit Commission and its centralised performance and inspection regimes and put in place a new localised audit regime, refocussing local accountability on improved transparency.

The abolition of the Commission centralised audit regime and its top down inspection was estimated to save taxpayers £1.2 billion over 10 years.

There are a total of 1,000 places available to Taiwanese youth for 2021. 800 applicants will be selected in the first ballot in January, while the remainder of the places will be made available in a second ballot in July 2021. If your application is successful you will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the scheme you should send one email per applicant to: Taiwan.YMS2021@FCDO.gov.uk between midday (12pm) on Monday 25 January 2021 to midday on Wednesday 27 January 2021 (Taiwan time).

The header or subject line of your email must contain your name, date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY) and passport number as shown in your passport.

This must be written in English only.

For example: WU Janice – 31/03/2000 – Passport123456789

The main body of your email should include the following information, written in English:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Passport number
• Mobile phone number

The email account will only be open for 48 hours and all emails received within this timeframe will be sent an automated reply confirming receipt.

Once the ballot closes 800 applicants will be chosen at random by UKVI. If you have been successful a second email will be sent to you from week commencing 8 February to confirm acceptance and provide further instructions on how to make an appointment, along with documentary evidence required to apply for your entry clearance.

Please note successful applicants must prepare online applications and online credit card payments no later than 8 March 2021. Failure to submit your payment online by this date will automatically remove your name from the list and your allocation will be retracted. After you have paid online you have 90 days to submit your paperwork for consideration.

If you are a Taiwanese youth living overseas you can also apply following the instructions above, and if you are chosen to apply you will be able to do so in your country/territory of residence. Applications cannot be submitted for the Youth Mobility Scheme in the UK.

If you’re unsuccessful you will receive an email by 12 February and no further action is required. Further information about the scheme can be found on GOV.UK and any enquiries relating to the application process, online application forms and questions in general should be directed to the UKVI International Enquiry Line.

These documents provide updates on the progress that has been made to implement the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report. They include updates from the relevant government departments and assurances received from relevant public authorities – including the London Fire Brigade (LFB), National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and other emergency services – on their progress to address and implement the Phase 1 recommendations directed to them.

These updates, and the government’s commitment to update regularly, will bring considerable transparency to what is a vitally important area of work.

These documents do not reflect finalised government policy.