Just 1% of English councils published audited accounts by deadline

Experts say backlog increases risk of financial irregularities and risky behaviours going undetected

The early warning system designed to identify English councils in serious financial difficulty is in crisis, with hundreds of local authorities failing to meet the legal deadline to publish audited accounts covering 100bn of public spending.

The vast majority - 99% - of English councils did not have their 2022-23 financial accounts signed off by the deadline this year, which experts say is increasing the risk of financial irregularities and risky behaviours going undetected..

Warrington borough council

Spelthorne borough council

Slough borough council

Scarborough borough council*

Rossendale borough council

Luton borough council

London borough of Tower Hamlets

Harlow district council

Copeland borough council

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority.