Andy Burnham's England devolution plan hits audit and funding hurdles

Andy Burnham announced a programme to give English local authorities greater financial powers, but the audit system that should oversee council finances has largely collapsed since its privatisation in 2014. By 2023 nearly 1,000 audit opinions were still outstanding and only about 1% of council accounts were filed on time, raising fears of unchecked financial risks such as the £2 billion debt buildup in Woking.

In Lancashire, county council leader Stephen Atkinson said he will not support a directly elected mayor until the government clarifies the financial benefits, warning that the role could require a council‑tax increase to cover its costs. He is writing to ministers for details, while meetings on the devolution deal have been repeatedly cancelled, leaving the Lancashire mayoralty in limbo.