Local Government Finance Act 1982

21 Fees for audit. E+W

(1) The Commission shall prescribe a scale or scales of fees in respect of the audit of accounts which are required to be audited in accordance with this Part of this Act.

(2) Before prescribing any scale of fees under subsection (1) above the Commission shall consult such associations of local authorities as appear to it to be concerned and such bodies of accountants as appear to it to be appropriate.

[F1 (2A) In the application of subsection (2) above to the audit of the accounts of a health service body, the reference to associations of local authorities shall be construed as a reference to organisations connected with the health service.]

(3) A body whose accounts are audited in accordance with this Part of this Act shall, subject to subsection (4) below, pay to the Commission the fee applicable to the audit in accordance with the appropriate scale.

(4) If it appears to the Commission that the work involved in a particular audit was substantially more or less than that envisaged by the appropriate scale, the Commission may charge a fee which is larger or smaller than that referred to in subsection (3) above.

(5) For the purpose of determining the fee payable for an audit, a body whose accounts are being audited (or, in the case of the accounts of a parish meeting, the chairman of the meeting) shall complete a statement containing such information as the Commission may require and submit it to the auditor who shall send it to the Commission on the conclusion of the audit with a certificate that the statement is correct to the best of his knowledge and belief; and, in addition, the body shall furnish the Commission with such further information as it may at any time require for the said purpose.

(6) The fee payable for an audit shall be the same whether the audit is carried out by an auditor who is an officer of the Commission or by an auditor who is not such an officer.

(7) If the Secretary of State considers it necessary or desirable to do so, he may by regulations prescribe a scale or scales of fees to have effect, for such period as is specified in the regulations, in place of any scale or scales prescribed by the Commission and, if he does so, references in subsections (3) and (4) above to the appropriate scale shall, as respects that period, be construed as references to the appropriate scale prescribed by the Secretary of State.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 21(2A) inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 20(1), Sch. 4 para. 11