The WIDP Contract (Clause 84.5) makes it clear the District Auditor and the Audit Commission55 can examine documents held by the Contractors and/or Sub-Contractors and, if necessary, require oral or written explanations. It also includes (Clause 84.9) an acknowledgement from both parties that the Audit Commission has the right to publish details of the Contract including Commercially Sensitive Information in its relevant reports to Parliament.
At the time of writing, the local audit framework is under review. In August 2010 the Department for Communities and Local Government announced plans to disband the Audit Commission and has since said it is committed to doing this after 2012. A consultation on the future of local public audit took place in the middle of 2011, and DCLG is now producing draft legislation on the proposals for a new local audit framework. In the meantime, the statutory powers and duties of the Audit Commission to carry out audits and best value inspections remain in force. In practice, the Audit Commission has ceased some of its activities, for example inspections under the now abolished Comprehensive Area Assessment. The Authority's Contract Manager should seek appropriate legal advice on developments in the local audit framework and the need for any consequential changes to the terms of the Contract.
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55 The Audit Commission's internet address is http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk