News story

Changes to the Audit Commission board: July 2011

A process to appoint a new member of the Audit Commission board has been launched today. Merrick Cockell’s appointment to the Audit Commission…

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

A process to appoint a new member of the Audit Commission board has been launched today. Merrick Cockell’s appointment to the Audit Commission Board will come to an end as he leaves to join the Local Government Association.

The appointment of a new Commissioner is now needed so that the Board remains quorate and to ensure that a local government representative from each of the main political parties can play a part in the management of the Commission. The recruitment process for a new Conservative member has commenced, in co-operation with the Local Government Association.

The Government announced plans in August 2010 to disband the Audit Commission and to refocus audit on helping local people hold councils and local public bodies to account for local spending decisions. In the future, councils will be free to appoint their own independent external auditors from a more competitive and open market and there will be a new audit framework for local health bodies. This will save council taxpayers’ money and decentralise power.

The new Board member will assist with the process of closing the Commission down, shaping its reduced role during the current transitional period and transferring the work of its widely respected audit practice to the private sector.

Notes to editors

  1. Details of the vacancy can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/jobscontracts/generalecruitment/currentvacancies/auditcommissionaugust2011/.

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Published 21 July 2011