Commentary on Sections Part 6: Performance and Governance Of Principal Councils Chapter 1: Performance, Performance Assessments and Intervention Section 95 – Power of Auditor General to carry out a special inspection
467.This section gives the Auditor General a power to carry out an inspection of a principal council to assess the extent to which the council is meeting the performance requirements (this inspection is referred to in Chapter 1 as a “special inspection”). The Auditor General may conduct such an inspection where they consider that a principal council is not, or may not be, meeting the performance requirements. The Auditor General must consult the Welsh Ministers before making the decision to conduct a special inspection, except in a case in which the Welsh Ministers have asked the Auditor General to consider undertaking a special inspection.
468.Before carrying out a special inspection, the Auditor General must provide notice to a principal council giving the reasons for the special inspection and the matters the Auditor General intends to inspect.
469.This section also requires the Auditor General to produce a report following the special inspection which must be published and sent to the council, Estyn and the Welsh Ministers. A council must make the report available to its governance and audit committee as soon as is reasonably practicable.