Citation, commencement and extent

regulation 1 + 1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Local Audit (Modification of Financial Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 26th June 2025.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Modification of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

regulation 2 + 2.—(1) The requirement in section 3(3) of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 for a relevant authority(2), other than a health service body(3), to prepare a statement of accounts for each financial year(4) is, in respect of a relevant authority specified in paragraph (2)—

regulation 2 1 a + (a)disapplied in respect of the financial year beginning with 1st April 2024, and

regulation 2 1 b + (b)modified in respect of the financial year beginning with 1st April 2025 to require the authority to prepare a statement of accounts for that year as though that year were to begin with 5th February 2025.

(2) The relevant authorities are—

regulation 2 2 a + (a)Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority,

regulation 2 2 b + (b)Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority,

regulation 2 2 c + (c)Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority,

regulation 2 2 d + (d)Lancashire Combined County Authority.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations modify the requirement in section 3(3) of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2) for a relevant authority (other than a health service body) to prepare a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year, for the following authorities which were established on 5th February 2025—

• Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority

• Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority,

• Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority,

• Lancashire Combined County Authority.

Regulation 2 disapplies the requirement for these authorities to prepare a statement of accounts in respect of the financial year beginning with 1st April 2024. It also modifies section 3(3) by extending the period for which the statement of accounts in respect of the financial year beginning with 1st April 2025 is to be prepared, so that it covers the period beginning with 5th February 2025.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.