Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

Publicity for public interest reports E+W

4 (1) This paragraph applies to a relevant authority if a local auditor has made a public interest report relating to the authority or an entity connected with it. E+W

(2) As soon as is practicable after receiving the report, the relevant authority must publish the report and a notice that—

(a) identifies the subject matter of the report, and

(b) unless the authority is a health service body, states that any member of the public may inspect the report and make a copy of it or any part of it between the times and at the place or places specified in the notice.

(3) As soon as is practicable after receiving the report, the relevant authority must supply a copy of the report to—

(a) each of its members (if it has members), and

(b) its auditor panel (if it has one).

(4) Sub-paragraph (3)(a) does not apply in relation to a parish meeting.

(5) From the time when the report is received, the relevant authority, unless it is a health service body, must ensure that any member of the public may—

(a) inspect the report at all reasonable times without payment,

(b) make a copy of it, or any part of it, and

(c) be supplied with a copy of it, or any part of it, on payment of a reasonable sum.

(6) The local auditor may—

(a) notify any person the auditor thinks fit of the fact that the auditor has made the report, and

(b) supply a copy of it or any part of it to any person the auditor thinks fit.

(7) A notice or report required to be published under this paragraph must be published—

(a) if the authority has a website, on its website;

(b) otherwise, in accordance with sub-paragraph (8).

(8) A relevant authority publishes a notice or report in accordance with this sub-paragraph if—

(a) in the case of an authority other than a health service body, it publishes the notice or report in such manner as it thinks is likely to bring the notice or report to the attention of persons who live in its area;

(b) in the case of a clinical commissioning group, it publishes the notice or report in such manner as it thinks is likely to bring the notice or report to the attention of—

(i) persons who live in the area of the group, and

(ii) persons who do not live in the area of the group but for whom the group is responsible;

(c) in the case of special trustees for a hospital, they publish the notice or report in such manner as they think is likely to bring the notice to the attention of persons to whom services are provided at that hospital.

(9) Nothing in this paragraph affects the operation of paragraph 9.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 7 para. 4 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(p) (with Sch. para. 1) (as amended (27.6.2016) by S.I. 2016/675, art. 2)