Audit Commission Act 1998 (repealed)

[F1 19A Other bodies: advisory notices. E+W

(1) The auditor for the time being of the accounts of a body subject to audit other than a health service body may issue a notice under this section (“an advisory notice”) if he has reason to believe that the body or an officer of the body—

(a) is about to make or has made a decision which involves or would involve the body incurring expenditure which is unlawful,

(b) is about to take or has begun to take a course of action which, if pursued to its conclusion, would be unlawful and likely to cause a loss or deficiency, or

(c) is about to enter an item of account, the entry of which is unlawful.

(2) For the purposes of this section and section 19B the actions of—

(a) a committee or sub-committee of a body, or

(b) any other person (other than an officer) authorised to act on behalf of the body,

are to be treated as the actions of the body itself.

(3) An advisory notice is a notice which—

(a) is addressed to the body or officer concerned,

(b) specifies the paragraph of subsection (1) which is relevant and the decision, course of action or item of account to which the notice relates,

(c) specifies that the notice will take effect on the day a copy of the notice is served on the person to whom it is addressed, and

(d) requires the body or officer before—

(i) making or implementing the decision,

(ii) taking or continuing to take the course of action, or

(iii) entering the item of account,

(as the case may be) to give the person who is for the time being the auditor of the accounts of the body not less than the specified number of days’ notice in writing of the intention of the body or officer to do that thing,

and in paragraph (d) the reference to the specified number is to such number not exceeding 21 as is specified in the notice.

(4) Where two or more auditors are appointed in relation to the accounts of any body—

(a) the power to issue an advisory notice may be exercised by the auditors acting jointly or by such one of them as they may determine, and

(b) in relation to such a notice, references in subsections (5) and (6) to the auditor are references to the auditor or auditors by whom the notice is issued.

(5) A copy of an advisory notice—

(a) shall be served on the body to which, or to an officer of which, it is addressed,

(b) in the case of a notice addressed to an officer, shall also be served on him, and

(c) may be served on such other person or persons as the auditor considers appropriate.

(6) The auditor shall serve a statement of his reasons for the belief referred to in subsection (1) on the body concerned, and on any officer on whom a copy of the notice was served under subsection (5)(b), before the end of the period of 7 days beginning on the day on which a copy of the notice was served on the person to whom it is addressed.

(7) Where this section requires any document to be served on an officer of a body, it shall be served on him by addressing it to him and delivering it to him or leaving it at, or sending it by post to, the office at which he is employed.

(8) An advisory notice may at any time be withdrawn by the person who is for the time being the auditor in relation to the accounts of the body to which, or to an officer of which, the notice was addressed, and the auditor shall give notice in writing of the withdrawal to any body or person on whom a copy of the advisory notice was served under subsection (5).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 19A inserted (19.12.2000 (E.) and for specified purposes (W.) and otherwiseprosp.) by 2000 c. 22, ss. 91(1), 108(3); S.I. 2000/3335, art. 2