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<p>The Department working with system partners has developed proposals to tackle the
exceptional circumstance of the current backlog and ensure a return to timely delivery
of high-quality financial reporting and external audit in local bodies.</p><p>This
has been detailed work, balancing various imperatives across the system. Having thoroughly
tested the options, I recently wrote to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Committee and confirmed that the Department, supported by the Financial Reporting
Council, and alongside the National Audit Office, will launch consultations on these
proposals in the coming weeks. The solution on the table has the agreement of all
system partners and is the best proposal to clear the backlog and over time, return
to high quality assurance.</p><p>Our proposals will include an initial statutory backstop
date of 30 September 2024 for local authorities and auditors to publish their audited
financial accounts for all outstanding local audits in England up to and including
the financial year 2022-23. While these consultations take place, preparers and auditors
should continue undertaking existing work to produce and audit local authority financial
statements to ensure the system is in the best place possible to implement any final
package of measures.</p>
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