This will see the establishment of the Local Audit Office (LAO) as a statutory and independent body by 2028 to provide oversight of the local audit sector, and to ensure the sector ‘provides value for money (VFM), remaining proportionate and focused in scope’.

Jim McMahon, minister for local government, said: ‘There is a clear consensus on the need for urgent action to fix the broken local audit system.

‘The commitments outlined in the strategy and government response will enable us to get local audit back on track and give the sector the firm financial foundations to become fit, legal and decent.’

This followed a rapid consultation into the future of local audit launched just before Christmas last year. The wide ranging plans will see a total overhaul of the current system.