By Vivienne Russell | 6 June 2012
The government is seeking a new chair of the Audit Commission to oversee its abolition and replace Michael O’Higgins, who steps down at the end of September.
Ministers said they were looking for an individual to lead the local spending watchdog to an ‘effective and efficient closedown’.Communities Secretary Eric Pickles’ announced in August 2010 that the commission would be scrapped. Since then its inspection functions have ceased and its audit work and staff will be transferred to private firms from September this year. It is the government’s intention that local authorities will appoint their own auditors once the five-year contracts expire.
The chair will lead the board through this transition process and in shaping the commission’s reduced role until it is formally disbanded.
Remuneration of up to £30,000 is on offer for the non-executive post, which will involve six days work a month. The Department for Communities and Local Government is seeking an individual with strong, board-level leadership skills and experience of successful change management. Public appointment assessor Sir Stephen Bubb, who is also chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, will chair the interview panel.
The closing date for applications is June 29 with interviews scheduled to take place on July 10.
Legislation to formally disband the commission was promised in the Queen’s Speech last month and the draft Bill is expected to be published later this year.
